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TOOKE'S  PANTHEON 


OF   THE 


HEATHEN  GODS 


AMD 


ILLUSTRIOUS    HEROES 

\J    £'       REVISED   FOR 


(^ 


A  CLASSICAL  COURSE  OF  EDUCATION, 


AND   ADAPTED   FOR 


THE  USE  OF  STUDENTS  OF  EVERY  AGE 


AND  oe;  I^HER^  S^X. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  EKGRATIXGS  FROM  MEW  AMD  ORIGINAL  DESIGKS. 


BALTIMORE: 

PUBLISHED  BY  WILLIAM  &  JOSEPH  NEAU 

1833. 


8 1 7  00 


DISTRICT  OF  MARYLAND,  ss. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  this  fifth  day  of  May,  in  the 
forty-first  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  Edward  J.  Coale  and  Nathaniel  G.  Maxwell,  of  the 
said  district,  have  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the 
right  whereof  they  claim  as  proprietors  in  the  words  following, 
to  w^it : — 

"  Tooke's  Pantheon  of  the  Heathen  Gods,  and  Illustrious  He« 
roes.  Revised  for  a  classical  course  of  education,  and  adapted 
for  the  use  of  students  of  every  age,  and  of  either  sex.  Illus- 
trated with  engravings  from  new  and  original  designs." 

In  conformity  to  an  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
entitled  •'  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing 
the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  pro- 
prietors of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned;'* 
and  also  to  the  act,  entitled,  "  An  act  supplementary  to  the  act, 
entitled  '  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing 
the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books  to  the  authors  and  propri- 
etors of  such  copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,'  and 
extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving, 
and  e*;:hing  historical  and  other  prints." 

PHILIP  MOORE, 
Chrk  of  the  District  of  Maryland. 


ti^f*  f 


ADVERTISEMENT 
TO  THIS  REVISED  EDITION  OF 

TOOKE'S  PAxNTHEON, 


The  object  of  the  Editor  of  tins  work,  is  lo 
present  a  complete  summary  of  Mythology,  in  a 
chaste  diction,  for  the  study  of  persons  of  every 
age,  and  of  either  sex.  Without  a  general  know- 
ledge of  Heathen  Mythology,  the  immortal  writ- 
ings of  Homer,  Virgil,  Ovid,  and  others,  are  al- 
most unintelligible,  and  their  principal  beauties 
lost. 

*  Tooke's  Pantheon  is  a  work  which  has 
stood  the  test  of  time.  It  is  more  than  a  century 
since  it  was  published,  and  the  labours  and  re- 
searches of  the  author  are  at  this  day  so  justly  es- 
teemed, that  it  is  used  as  a  class-book  in  several  of 
oiu-  colleges.  The  sole  exception  urged  by  many, 
is,  that  the  work  is  occasionally  too  indelicate  in 
its  phraseology,  and  therefore  not  well  adapted  for 
the  youth  of  either  sex.  An  attempt  has  been  made 
in  this  edition  to  render  it  free  from  this  objection, 
by  altering  or  expunging  the  language  or  phrases 
considered  improper,  while  much  care  has  been 
taken  that  no  fact  nor  incident,  worthy  of  any  note, 
related  by  the  author,  is  omitted. 

*  Andrew  Tooke,  born  in  London,  1673,  was  a  learned  man, 
and  a  very  respectable  teacher.  Though  he  possessed  much 
property,  he  was  so  attached  to  literature  and  his  habits  of  life, 
that  he  continaed  in  his  profession  to  the  end  of  his  days.  He 
published  several  learned  works,  among  them  The  Pantheon^ 
translated  from  the  Latin  of  Pomey,  a  Jesuit  of  Lyons.  Pomey 
was  much  distinguished  for  his  Pantheum  Mysticum,  translated 
by  Tooke  without  acknowledgment.  He  wrote  besides  a  French 
and  Latin  dictionary,  and  several  works  which  exhibited  bis 
great  learning  in  ancient  literature.  He  died  at  Lyons,  in  the 
year  1673;  thus  it  appears  that  this  work  was  published  preyious 
to  that  year. 


SV  ADVERTISEMENT. 

While  this  book  may  be  resorted  to,  occasionally 
by  gentlemen  who  have  finished  their  classical 
course  of  education,  we  trust  it  will  be  found  very 
useful  to  both  young  ladies  and  young  gentlemen 
prosecuting  their  studies  in  polite  literature,  espe- 
cially as  classical  learning  has  of  late  become  an 
object  of  considerable  importance  in  female  edu- 
cation. 

Thirty  new  and  beautiful  outlined  plates,  drawn 
from  antique  statues,  have  been  engraved  for  this 
edition  by  G.  Fairman,  Esq.  an  artist  of  the  first 
reputation  of  this  country,  and  the  work  is  printed 
with  good  type,  on  paper  of  an  excellent  quality ; 
it  is  therefore  anticipated,  that  it  will  meet  with  a 
favourable  reception,  and  a  hberal  support  from  the 
classical  reader  and  the  heads  of  colleges,  acada- 
mies  and  schools,  equal  to  the  endeavours  of  the 
publishers  to  render  it  worthy  of  their  patronage. 

Questions  for  examination,  for  the  conve- 
nience of  teachers,  and  for  th€  use  of  students,  will 
be  found  at  the  end  of  each  chapter.  The  table  of 
contents  exhibits  a  brief  analysis  of  the  work. 


CONTENTS. 

INTRODUCTION— AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PANTHEON. 

Origin  of  Idolatry, 15 

Distribution  of  the  Gods  into  several  classes,  10 
Ji  more  commodious  division  of  the  Gods,  CeleS' 

iial,  Terrestrial,  Marine,  Infernal,  <^c.       .  22 
PART  I.— CELESTIAL  GODS. 

Jnpiter,         ....'....  24 

Apollo, 39 

The  Sun,  or  Sol,         52 

Mercury, 58 

Bacchus,        64 

Mars, 76 

CELESTIAL  GODDESSES. 

Juno, 83 

Minerva, 91 

Venus, 99 

Latona,        112 

Aurora,        115 

PART  II.— TERRESTRIAL  GODS. 

Saturn, 118 

Janus, 127 

Vulcan,        132 

^olus, 136 

Momus,         138 

TERRESTRIAL  GODDESSES. 

Vesta, 139 

C7jhele,          142 

Ceres, 150 

The  Muses,        159 

Themis,  Astrcua,  JVemesis, 164 

GODS  OF  THE  WOOD,  AND  RURAL  DEITIES. 

Pan,        167 

Silvanus  and  Silenus, 171 

The  Satyrs,  Fauns,  Priapus,  Aristaus,         .  173 

Terminus, 175 

GODDESSES  OF  THE  WOODS. 

Diana, 176 

Pales,  Flora,  Feronia,  Pomona,      ....  182 


CONTENTS. 

The  JVymphs, 86 

The  Inferior  Rural  Deities^ 191 

PART  III.— GODS  OF  THE  SEA. 

JVeptune, 194 

Triton  and  other  Marine  Gods,      .     .     .     .  199 

Monsters  of  the  Sea,      )     ^  202 
Scylla  and  Charyhdis,    ) 

PART  IV.— INFERNAL  DEITIES. 
P^tew  of  Hell,  Charon,  Rivers  of  Hell,  Cer- 
berus,            .....  207 

Pluto,  Flutus, 211 

Proserpine,  the  Fates,  the  Furies,         .     .     .  216 

Mght,  Death,  Sleep,  the  Judges  of  Hell,      .  220 

The  most  famous  of  the  Condemned  in  Hell,  222 

Monsters  of  Hell,  Elysium,  Lethe,       .     .     .  229 

PART  v.— OF  THE  DII  RIINORUM  GENTIUM,  OR  THE 
SUBORDINATE  DEITIES. 

The  Penates,  the  Lares,        236 

The  Genii, 240 

The  Kuptial  Deities,        243 

Deities  presiding  over  Infants, 245 

PART  VI.— OF  THE  DII  INDIGETES  AND  ADSCRIPTITII, 
OR  THE  SEMI-DEI  AND  HEROES. 

Hercules,      ...    V 249 

Jason,  Theseus, >     ...  258 

Castor  and  Pollux, 263 

Perseus,  ^sculapius, 267 

Prometheus,  Atlas, 273 

Orpheus,  and  Amphion,  Achilles,    ....  279 

Ulysses  and  Orion, 283 

Osires,  Apis,  Se7'apis, 286 

APPENDIX— OF  THE  VIRTUES  AND  VICES    WHICH 
HAVE  BEEN  DEIFIED. 

The  Virtues  and  the  Good  Deities^      .     .     .  292 

The  Vices  and  the  Evil  DeitteSy     .  .     •  298 


2N^S©JBWlS^2®l5 


MODERN  DliSCRIPTION  OF  THE  PANTHEON. 

This  temple,  the  most  celebrated  of  those  which 
have  escaped  the  more  essential  injuries  of  time,  im- 
presses us  with  a  very  striking  idea  of  the  magnifi- 
cence of  the  ancients.  From  its  circular  form  it  has 
acquired  the  name  of  the  rotunda.  The  entrance  to 
it  is  under  a  grand  portico,  supported  by  sixteen  im- 
mense columns  of  the  Corinthian  order,  each  of  them 
composed  of  a  single  piece  of  red  oriental  granite. 
Of  these,  eight  of  them  are  in  front,  and  sustain  an 
entablature  and  frontispiece  of  the  most  beautiful 
proportion  which  architecture  can  boast.  The  cir-» 
cumference  of  each  of  these  columns  is  fourteen  feet ; 
and  the  height,  independent  of  the  base  and  capital, 
which  are  of  white  marble,  two  and  forty.  The  in- 
side of  the  temple  is  supplied  with  light  through  one 
circular  aperture,  the  diameter  of  which  is  six  and 
twenty  feet,  and  to  which  there  is  an  ascent  by  a 
staircase  consisting  of  an  hundred  and  ninety  steps 
The  gallery  over  the  principal  altar  of  a  semicircu 
lar  form,  is  obtained  from  the  thickness  of  the  wall, 
and  supported  by  pillars  of  yellow  marble.  On 
every  side  are  chapels  adorned  also  with  columns  of 
yellow  marble,  and  with  pilasters  crowned  with  an 
entablature  of  white  marble,  which  extends  round 
the  building.  The  walls  and  the  pavement  are  cased 
with  marble.  The  whole  presents  us  with  an  assem- 
blage of  rare  beauty ;  and  we  cannot  but  regret  the 
2 


14 

loss  of  its  statues  and  some  of  its  other  original  or- 
naments ;  which  would  still  improve  the  magnifi* 
cence  of  its  effect. 

The  bronze  ornaments  of  the  dome  were  removed 
in  the  pontificate  of  Urban  "VTII.  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  the  canopy  of  the  great  altar  in  St.  Peter's. 
We  know  that  the  bronze  gates  ornamented  with 
bass-relief,  were  taken  away  by  Genseric,  king  of  the 
Vandals,  and  were  lost  in  the  sea  of  Sicily. 


THE 

FABULOUS  HISTORIES 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  APPROACH  TO  THE  PANTHEON.— THE  ORIGIN 
OF  IDOLATRY. 

The  Fabulous  Pantheon,  is,  as  its  name  imports, 
the  Temple  of  all  the  Gods,  which  the  superstitious 
folly  of  men  have  feigned  through  a  gross  ignorance 
of  Uie  true  and  only  God. 

It  may  be  right  to  give  some  account  of  the  Pan- 
theon, of  which  you  have  a  view  in  the  plate  that  fa- 
ces the  title  page.  It  is  uncertain  by  whom  this  beau- 
tiful edifice  was  erected :  some  suppose  it  to  have  been 
built  by  Agrippa,  the  son-in-law  of  Augustus ;  but 
others  contend  that  he  only  enlarged  and  adorned  it, 
and  added  to  it  a  magnificent  portico.  Its  body  is 
cylindrical,  and  its  roof  or  dome  spherical ;  its  inner 
diameter  was  one  hundred  and  forty-four  feet,  and 
the  height  from  the  pavement  to  the  grand  apertm'e, 
on  its  top,  was  also  one  hmidred  and  forty-four  feet. 
Its  exterior  was  built  after  the  Corinthian  order  of 
architecture.  The  inner  circumference  is  divided 
into  seven  grand  niches,  six  of  which  are  flat  at  the 
top,  but  the  seventh,  which  is  opposite  to  the  entrance, 
is  arched.  Before  each  niche  are  two  columns  of  an- 
tiqu£  yellow  marble,  fluted,  and  of  one  entire  block. 
The  whole  wall  of  the  temple,  as  high  as  the  grand 
cornice  inclusive,  is  cased  with  different  kinds  of 
precious  marble,  in  compartments.     The  frieze  n 


16 

entirely  of  porphyry.  Above  the  grand  cornice  rises 
an  attic,  in  which  are  wrought,  at  equal  distances, 
fourteen  oblong  square  niches,  between  each  of  which 
were  four  marble  pilasters,  and  between  the  pillars, 
marble  tables  of  various  kinds.  This  attic  had  a 
(•omplete  entablature  ;  but  the  cornice  projected  less 
than  that  of  the  grand  order  below.  The  spherical 
roof  springs  from  the  cornice,  which  is  divided  by 
bands  that  cross  each  other  like  the  meridians  and 
parallels  of  an  artificial  terrestrial  globe.  The  spa- 
ces between  the  bands  decrease  ni  size  as  they  ap- 
proach the  top  of  the  roof,  to  which  they  do  not 
reach,  there  being  a  considerable  space  left  plain, 
between  them  and  the  great  opening. 

The  walls  below  were  formerly  decorated  with 
works  of  carved  brass  or  silver,  and  the  roof  was  co- 
vered on  the  outside  with  plates  of  gilded  bronze.  Tae 
portico  is  composed  of  sixteen  columns  of  granite, 
four  feet  in  diameter,  eight  of  which  stand  in  front, 
with  an  equal  intercolumniation.  To  these  columns 
is  a  pediment,  whose  tympanum,  or  flat,  was  orna- 
mented with  bass-reliefs  in  brass  :  the  cross  beams, 
which  formed  the  ceiling  of  the  portico,  were  covered 
with  the  same  metal,  and  so  were  the  doors.  Such 
was  the  Pantheon,  the  richness  and  magnificence  of 
which  induced  Pliny,  and  others,  to  rank  it  among 
the  wonders  of  the  world.  This  temple  subsisted  in 
all  its  grandeur,  till  the  incursion  of  Alaric,  who 
plundered  it  of  its  precious  metals.  The  building 
continues  to  this  day  ;  but  it  was,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  seventh  centur}',  converted,  by  Boniface  IV. 
into  a  Christian  church,  and  dedicated  to  the  ^'  Vir- 
gin ]\Iary,  and  all  the  saints." 

The  causes  which  have  chiefly  conduced  to  the 
establishment  and  continuance  of  idolatry  are  thus 
enumerated : 

1.  The  first  cause  of  idolatry  was  the  extreme  foU 
hjj  and  vain  glory  of  men,  who  have  denied  to  Him, 


17 

who  is  the  inexhausted  fountain  of  all  good,  the  hon- 
ours which  they  have  attributed  to  muddy  streams  . 
"  Digging."  as  the  prophet  Jeremiah  complains,  ''  to 
tliemselves  broken  and  dirty  cisterns,  and  neglecting 
and  forsaking  the  most  pure  fountain  of  living  wa- 
ters." It  ordinarily  happened  after  tliis  manner :  if 
any  one  excelled  in  stature  of  body,  if  he  were  en- 
dued with  greatness  of  mind,  or  noted  for  clearness 
of  wit,  he  first  gained  to  himself  the  admiration  of 
the  ignorant  vulgar  ;  this  admiration  was  by  degrees 
turned  into  a  profound  respect,  till  at  length  they 
paid  him  greater  honour  than  men  ought  to  receive, 
and  ranked  the  man  among  the  number  of  gods ; 
while  the  more  prudent  were  either  carried  away  by 
tlie  torrent  of  the  vulgar  opinion,  or  were  miable  or 
afraid  to  resist  it. 

2.  The  sordid  flattery  of  subjects  toward  their 
princes,  was  a  second  cause  of  Idolatry.  To  gratify 
their  vanity,  to  flatter  thei.r  pride,  and  to  soothe 
them  in  their  self-conceit,  they  erected  altars,  and 
set  the  images  of  their  princes  on  them ;  to  which 
they  offered  incense,  in  like  manner  as  to  the  gods  ; 
and  not  unfrequently,  while  they  were  living. 

3.  A  third  cause  of  Idolatry,  was  an  immoderate 
love  of  immortality  in  many  ;  who  studied  to  attain 
it,  by  leaving  effigies  of  themselves  behind  them ;  ima- 
gining that  their  names  would  still  be  preserved  from 
the  power  of  death  and  time,  so  long  as  they  lived 
in  brass,  or  in  statues  of  marble,  after  their  funerals. 

4.  A  desire  of  perpetuating  the  memories  of  excel- 
lent and  useful  men  to  future  ages,  was  the  fourth 
cause  of  Idolatry.  For  to  make  the  memory  of 
such  men  eternal,  and  their  names  immortal,  they 
made  them  gods,  or  rather  called  them  so. 

The  contriver  and  assertor  of  false  gods  was  Ni- 
nus,  the  first  king  of  the  Assyrians,  who,  to  render 
the  name  of  his  father  Belus,  or  Nimrod  immortal, 
2* 


18 

Morsljipped  lilin  with  divine  honours  after  his  death, 
w  liich  is  tluis  accounted  for  : 

After  Ninus  had  concjuered  many  nations  far  and 
near,  and  buiU  the  city  called  after  his  name,  Nine- 
veh; in  a  public  assembly  of  the  Babylonians  he 
extolled  his  father  Belus,  the  founder  of  the  empire 
and  city  of  Babylon,  beyond  all  measure,  representing 
Iiim  not  only  worthy  of  perpetual  honour  among  all 
posterity,  but  also  of  an  immortality  among  the  gods 
above.  He  then  exhibited  a  statue  of  him,  curiously 
and  neatly  made,  to  which  he  commanded  them  to 
pay  the  same  reverence  that  they  would  have  given 
to  Belus  while  alive ;  he  also  appointed  it  to  be  a 
common  sanctuary  to  the  miserable,  and  ordained, 
"  that  if  at  any  time  an  offender  should  fly  to  this 
statue,  it  should  not  be  lawful  to  force  him  away  to 
punishment."  This  privilege  easily  procured  so 
great  a  veneration  to  the  dead  prince,  that  he  was 
thought  more  than  a  man,  and,  therefore,  was  cre- 
ated a  god,  and  called  Jupiter,  or,  as  others  write, 
Saturn  of  Babylon  ;  where  a  most  magnificent  tem- 
ple was  erected  to  him  by  his  son. 

After  this  beginning  of  Idolatry,  several  nations 
formed  to  themselves  gods ;  receiving  into  that  num- 
ber not  only  mortal  and  dead  men,  but  brutes  also ; 
and  even  the  most  mean  and  pitiful  inanimate  things. 
For  it  is  evident  from  the  authority  of  innumerable 
writers,  that  the  Africans  w^orshipped  the  heavens  as 
a  god;  the  Persians  adored  fire,   water,    and  the 
winds;  the  Lybians,  the  sun  and  moon;  the  The- 
bans,  sheep  and  weasels;  the  Babylonians  of  Mem- 
phis,  a    whale  ;    the  inhabitants  of  IMendes,  a  goat 
theThessalanians,  storks ;  the  S3Tophoenicians,  doves 
the  Egyptians,  dogs,  cats,  crocodiles  and  hawks 
nay,  leeks,  onions,  and  garhc.     Which  most  sense- 
less folly  Juvenal  wittity  exposes. 

"  0  sanctas  gentes,  quibus  haic  nascuntur  in  Ijortis 
Numina" 


19 

Religious  nations  sure,  and  bless'd  abodes, 
Where  ev'ry  orchard  is  o'errun  with  gods. 

The  ancient  Romans,  who  were  so  superior  in 
arms,  in  arts,  in  eloquence,  and  in  almost  every 
thing  that  can  adorn  human  nature,  were  plunged 
into  the  grossest  idolatry.  They  reckoned  among 
their  gods  not  only  beasts  and  things  void  of  all 
sense,  but,  which  is  a  far  greater  madness.,  they  some- 
times worshipped  as  gods,  the  very  worst  of  man- 
kind. 

Besides  their  own  country  gods,  and  family  gods, 
they  worshipped  all  strange  deities  that  came  to  the 
city,  and  which  were  made  free  of  it.  Whence  it 
came  to  pass,  in  time,  that  when  they  saw  their  pre- 
cincts too  narrow  to  contain  so  many,  necessity 
forced  them  to  send  their  gods  into  colonies,  as  they 
did  their  men. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMmATIOJV  OJV  THE  FOREGO- 
LYG  CHAPTER. 

What  is  meant  by  the  Fabulous  Pantheon  ? 

Give  some  account  of  the  Pantheon  at  Rome. 

To  what  purpose  w^as  it  devoted  by  Pope  Boniface  ? 

What  causes  have  conspired  to  the  establishment  of  Idolatry  ? 

W^ho  was  the  contriver  of  false  gods,  and  how  is  the  circum- 
stance accounted  for  ? 

Whom  or  what  did  the  Africans,  Persians,  and  others  wor- 
ship as  gods  ? 

Did  the  ancient  Romans  exhibit  more  wisdom  in  this  respect? 

To  what  had  they  recourse  when  their  deities  became  very 
attmerous  ? 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  PANTHEON.     A  DISTRI- 
BUTION OF  THE  GODS  INTO  SEVERAL  CLASSES. 

As  the  Roman  people  were  distributed  into  three 
ranks ;  namely,  of  ^senators  or  noblemen,  knights  or 
gentlemen,  plebeans  or  citizens;  as  also  into  ^noble, 

•  Patricii,  equites,  et  plebeii.  f  Nobiles,  novi,  et  ignobiles.  Cic. 
pro  Muraen. 


20 

new-raised,  and  ignohle ;  (of  which  the  neiv-rai&ed 
were  those  who  did  not  receive  their  nobihty  from 
their  ancestors,  but  obtained  it  themselves  by  their 
own  virtue;)  so  the  Roman  gods  were  divided,  as  it 
were,  into  three  classes. 

The  first  class  is  of  superior  gods,  Dii  majorum 
gehtium,  for  the  people  paid  to  them  a  higher  degree 
of  worship ;  because  they  imagined  that  these  gods 
were  more  eminently  employed  in  the  government  of 
this  world.  These  were  called  also  select,  because 
they  had  always  the  title  of  celestial  gods,  and  were 
famous  and  eminent  above  others,  of  extraordinary 
authority  and  renown.  Twelve  of  these  were  styled 
consentes ;  because,  in  affairs  of  great  importance, 
Jupiter  admitted  them  into  his  council.  The  images 
of  these  were  fixed  in  the  Forum  at  Rome  :  six  of 
them  were  males,  and  six  females ;  commonly,  with- 
out other  additions,  called  The  Twelve  gods  ;  and 
whose  names  Emiius  comprises  in  a  distich. 

Juno,  Vesta,  Mlnen^a,  Ceres,  Diana,  Venus,  Mars, 
Mercurius,  Neptunus,  Jupiter,  Vulcanus,  Apollo. 

These  twelve  gods  were  believed  to  preside  over 
the  twelve  months ;  to  each  of  them  was  allotted  a 
month;  January  to  Juno,  February  to  JYeptune, 
March  to  Minerva,  April  to  T^enus,  May  to  Apollo, 
June  to  Mercury,  July  to  Jupiter,  August  to  Ceres, 
September  to  T^ulcan,  October  to  Mars,  JS^ovember 
to  Diana,  December  to  T^esta.  They  likewise  pre- 
sided over  the  twelve  celestial  signs.  If  to  these 
twelve  Dii  Consentes,  you  add  the  eight  followins^, 
Janus,  Saturnus,  Genius,  Sol,  Pluto,  Bacchus,  Tel- 
lus,  and  Luna,  you  will  have  twenty,  that  is,  all  the 
select  gods. 

The  second  class  contains  the  gods  of  lower  rank 
and  dignity,  who  were  styled  Dii  Minorum  Gentium; 
because  they  shine  wifli  a  less  degree  of  glorj ,  and 
have  been  placed  among  the  gods,  as  Cicero  says,  by 


21 

their  own  merits.  Wlience  they  are  called  also  Ad- 
scriptitii,  Minuscularii^  Putatii,  and  Indigetes :  be- 
cause now  they  wanted  nothing  ;  or  because,  being 
translated  from  this  earth  into  heaven,  they  conversed 
with  the  gods;  or  being  fixed,  as  it  were,  to  certain 
places,  committed  peculiarly  to  their  care,  they  dwelt 
in  them,  to  perform  the  duty  intrusted  to  them.  Thus 
^neas  was  made  a  god,  by  his  mother  Venus,  in 
the  manner  described  by  Ovid  : 

His  better  parts  by  lustral  waves  refin'd, 

More  pure  and  nearer  to  ethereal  mind ; 

With  gums  of  fragrant  scent  the  goddess  strews, 

And  on  his  features  breathes  ambrosial  dews. 

Thus  deified,  new  honours  Rome  decrees, 

Shrines,  festivals ;  and  styles  him  Indiges.— jl/e^.  14. 

The  gods  of  the  third  and  lower  class,  are  some- 
times called  Minuti,  Vesci,  and  Miscellanei,  but  more 
usually  Semones,  whose  merits  were  not  sufficient  to 
gain  them  a  place  among  the  celestial  gods;  yet 
their  virtues  were  such,  that  the  people  thought  ±2:r. 
superior  to  mortal  men.  They  were  called  Patel- 
larii,  from  certain  small  dishes,  in  which  the  an- 
cients offered  to  the  gods  their  sacrifices,  of  which 
Ovid  makes  mention : 

To  Vesta's  deity,  with  humble  mess, 

In  cleanly  dish  serv'd  up,  they  now  address. 

To  these  we  ought  to  adjoin  the  gods  called  JVo- 
vensiles,  which  the  Sabines  brought  to  Rome  by  the 
command  of  king  Tatius;  and  which  were  so  named, 
and  some  say,  because  they  were  latest  of  all  rec- 
koned among  the  gods  ;  or  because  they  were  presi- 
dents over  the  changes,  by  which  the  things  of  this 
world  subsist.  Circius  believes  them  to  have  been 
the  strange  gods  of  conquered  nations  ;  whereof  the 
numbers  were  so  vast,  that  it  was  thought  fit  to  call 
all  in  general  A^ov ensiles,  lest  they  should  forget  any 
of  them.     And  lastly,  to  this  class  also  we  must  refer 


22 

those  gods  and  goddesses  by  whose  help  and  means, 
as  Cicero  says,  men  are  advanced  to  heaven,  and 
obtain  a  place  among  the  gods ;  of  which  sort  are 
the  principal  virtues,  as  we  shall  shoAV  in  the  proper 
place. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMIKJITION. 

Were  the  heathen  gods,  all  of  one  degree  of  rank ;  if  not,  into 
how  many  classes  were  they  divided  ? 

What  is  said  of  the  first  class  ? 

Why  were  they  called  select  9 

Why  were  some  of  them  called  consenies  f 

Over  what  did  the  twelve  gods  preside  ?    Enumerate  them. 

Which  others  make  up  the  twenty  Select  gods  ? 

Which  is  the  second  class  of  gods,  and  why  are  they  so  styled » 

What  aie  the  gods  of  the  third  class,  and  how  are  they  deno 
rainated  ? 

What  are  the  "  NovensUes  ?" 


:  CHAPTER  m.  V    - 

A  SUPPOSED  VIEW  OF  THE  PANTHEON.     A  MORE 
COMMODIOUS  DIVISION  OF  THE  GODS. 

Having  already  described  to  you  the  structure  and 
ornaments  of  this  wonderful  building,  within  the  nich- 
es of  which  the  statues  of  the  gods  were  placed,  it  is 
right  you  should  be  informed,  that  the  three  classes, 
mentioned  above,  are  here  divided  into  six,  and  paint- 
ed upon  tlie  several  parts  of  the  Pantheon.  1.  The 
celestial  gods  and  goddesses  are  upon  an  arch.  2. 
The  terrestrial,  upon  the  wall  on  tlie  right  hand.  3. 
The  marine  and  river  gods  upon  the  wall  on  the  left. 
4.  The  infernal,  upon  the  lower  compartment  by  the 
pavement.  5.  The  minuti  or  semonesj  and  miscella- 
nei,  before  you.  6.  The  adscriptitii  and  indigetes 
behind  you.  Our  discourse  shall  likewise  consist  of 
six  parts ;  in  each  of  which  I  shall  lay  before  you 
whatever  I  have  found  most  remarkable  among  the 


23 

best  authors  upon  this  subject.  Let  us,  however 
first  sit  down  together  awhile ;  and,  as  the  place  is 
free  from  company,  we  will  take  a  deliberate  view 
of  the  whole  army  of  gods,  and  inspect  them  one 
after  another ;  beginning,  as  is  fit,  with  the  celestial, 
and  so  with  Jove,  according  to  the  direction  of  the 
poet  : 

"  Ab  Jove  principium  Musae  :  Jovis  omnia  plena*** 

Virg.  Eel.  3. 
From  the  great  father  of  the  Gods  above 
My  Muse  begins  :  for  all  is  full  of  Jove. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION 

Into  how  many  classes  are  the  gods  in  the  pantheon  dividtui  f 

How  are  they  ranged  ? 

Whence  does  the  description  begin  ? 

Repeat  the  line  from  Virgil  and  translation. 


PART  I. 
OF  THE  CELESTIAL  DEITIES* 

CHAPTER  I. 

SEC.  L— JUPITER.    HIS  IMAGE. 

The  gods  commonly  called  celestial,  are  Jupiter, 
Apollo,  Mars,  Mercury,  and  Bacchus.  The  celes- 
tial goddesses  are  Juno,  Vesta,  Minerva  or  Pallas, 
Venus,  Luna,  and  Bellona. 

We  will  begin  with  Jupiter,*  the  father  and  king 
of  gods  and  men,  whom  you  see  sitting  in  a  throne 
of  ivory  and  gold,  under  a  rich  canopy,  with  a  beard, 
holding  thunder  in  his  right  hand,  which  he  brandish- 
es against  the  giants  at  his  feet,  whom  he  formerly 
conquered.  His  sceptre,  they  say,  is  made  of  cy- 
press, which  is  a  symbol  of  the  eternity  of  his  empire, 
because  that  wood  is  free  from  corruption.  On  his 
sceptre  sits  an  eagle,  either  because  he  was  brought 
up  by  it,  or  because  an  eagle  resting  upon  his  head, 
portended  his  reign,  or  because  in  his  wars  with  the 
giants  an  eagle  brought  him  his  thunder ;  and  thence 
receiv^ed  the  title  of  Jupiter's  armour  hearer. 

He  wears  golden  shoes,  and  an  embroidered  cloak, 
adorned  with  various  flowers  and  figures  of  animals. 
This  cloak,  it  is  reported,  Dionysius  the  tyrant  took 
from  him  in  Sicily,  and  giving  him  a  \voollen  cloak 
instead  of  it,  said,  "  That  would  be  more  convenient 
for  him  in  all  seasons,  since  it  was  warmer  in  the 

•     *  biv&m  pater  atque  hominum  rex.    Virg.  S,n.  1. 


cPmfflB^ 


25 

\«nnter,  and  much  lighter  in  the  summer."  Yet  you 
must  not  be  surprised,  if  by  chance  you  should  see 
him  in  another  place,  and  in  another  dress,  for  he  is 
wont  to  be  decked  in  several  fashions,  according  to 
the  various  names  he  assumes,  and  according  to  tlie 
diversity  of  the  people  among  whom  he  is  worship- 
ped. You  may  see  him  among  the  Lacedaemonians 
without  ears ;  whereas  the  Cretans  are  so  liberal  to 
him  in  this  particular,  that  they  give  him  four.  So 
much  for  the  figure  of  Jupiter. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Which  are  the  celestial  gods  ? 

Who  is  Jupiter? 

Of  what  is  his  sceptre  the  symbol  ? 

What  does  the  eagle  on  his  sceptre  denote  ? 

What  happened  to  him  with  respect  to  his  cloak  ? 

How  was  he  represented  by  the  Lacedaemonians  and  Cretans  ^ 

SEC.  2.  JUPITER'S  DESCENT  AND  EDUCATION. 

Those  who  were  skilled  in  the  Heathen  Theology, 
reckon  up  three  Jupiters  ;  of  which  the  first  and  se- 
cond were  born  in  Arcadia.  The  father  of  the  one 
was  ^ther ;  from  whom  Proserpine  and  Liber  are 
said  to  be  born.  The  father  of  the  other  was  Coelus; 
he  is  said  to  have  begot  IMinerva.  The  third  was  a 
Cretan,  the  son  of  Saturn,  whose  tomb  is  yet  extant 
in  tlie  isle  of  Crete.  But  Varro  reckoned  up  three 
hmidred  Jupiters  ;  and  others  mention  a  much  larger 
number ;  for  there  was  hardly  any  nation  that  did 
dot  worship  a  Jupiter  of  their  own,  and  suppose  him 
to  be  born  among  themselves.  But  of  all  these,  the 
most  famous  Jupiter,  according  to  the  general  opin- 
ion, is  he,  whose  mother  was  Ops,  and  whose  father 
was  Saturn ;  to  whom  therefore  all  that  the  poets 
fabulousl}^  wrote  about  the  other  Jupiters  is  usual- 
ly ascribed. 

He  was  educated  at  the  place  where  he  was  bom, 
that  is,  upon  the  mountain  Ida  in  Crete,  but  it  is  not 


26 

agreed  by  whom  he  was  brought  up.  Some  affirm, 
that  he  was  educated  by  the  Curetes  and  Corybantes-; 
some  say,  by  the  Nymphs,  and  some,  by  Amaltheea, 
the  daughter  of  Mellissus,  king  of  Crete.  Others, 
©n  the  contrary,  have  recorded,  that  the  bees  fed  him 
with  honey ;  and  some  maintain,  that  a  goat  gave 
him  milk.  Not  a  few  say,  that  he  was  nourished  by 
doves  ;  some,  by  an  eagle  ;  man}^,  by  a  bear.  And 
further,  it  is  the  opinion  of  some  concerning  the 
aforesaid  Amalthsea,  that  she  was  not  the  daughter 
of  Mellissus,  as  we  have  mentioned ;  but  the  very 
goat  which  suckled  Jupiter,  whose  horn  he  gave  af- 
terwards to  his  nurses,  with  this  admirable  privilege, 
"  that  whoever  possessed  it  should  immediately  ob- 
tam  every  thing  that  he  desired."  They  add  be- 
sides, that  after  this  goat  was  dead,  Jupiter  took  the 
skin  and  made  a  shield  of  it ;  with  which  he  singly 
combated  the  giants  ;  whence  that  shield  was  called 
^gisj  from  a  Greek  word  that  signifies  a  she  goat, 
which  at  last  he  restored  to  life  again,  and,  giving 
her  a  new  skin,  placed  her  among  the  celestial  con- 
stellations. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXJMIJVATIOJV. 

How  many  Jupiters  were  there,  and  whence  do  they  derive 
their  origin  ? 

Which  was  the  most  famous  Jupiter  ? 

What  is  ascribed  to  him  ? 

Where  was  he  educated  ? 

What  do  authors  say  of  those  who  brought  him  up  ? 

What  is  said  of  the  horn  of  the  goat  which  is  thought  to  have 
suckled  Jupiter  ? 

Why  was  his  shield  called  the  ^gis  ? 

SEC.  3.— EXPLOITS  OF  JUPITER. 

He  overcame,  in  war,  the  Titans  and  the  Giants,  df 
whom  we  shall  say  more  when  we  speak  of  Saturn. 
He  also  delivered  his  father  Saturn  from  imprison- 
ment ;  but  afterwards  deposed  him  from  the  throne, 
and  banished  him  for  a  conspiracy,  and  then  divided 


27 

the  paternal  inheritance  with  his  two  brothers,  Nep- 
tune and  Phito.  In  fine,  he  so  assisted  and  obhged 
all  mankind  by  the  great  favours  which  he  did,  that  be 
not  onh^  thence  obtained  the  name  of  Jupiter,  but  he 
was  advanced  also  to  divine  honours,  and  was  esteen>- 
ed  the  common  father  both  of  gods  and  men.  Among 
some  of  his  most  illustrious  actions,  we  ought  to  re- 
member the  story  of  Lycaon.  For  when  Jupiter 
had  heard  a  report  concerning  the  wickedness  and 
great  impiety  of  men,  it  is  said  that  he  descended 
from  heaven  to  the  earth,  to  know  the  real  truth  of 
it ;  and  that  being  come  into  the  house  of  Lycaon, 
king  of  Arcadia,  where  he  declared  himself  to  be  a 
god,  while  others  were  preparing  sacrifices  for  him, 
Lycaon  derided  him  :  nor  did  he  stop  here,  but  be- 
ing desirous  to  try  whether  Jupiter  was  a  god,  he 
kills  one  of  his  domestic  servants,  roasts  and  boils 
Ithe  flesh  of  him,  and  sets  it  on  the  table  as  a  ban- 
quet for  Jupiter ;  who,  abhori'ing  the  wTetch's  bar- 
barit}^  fired  the  palace  with  lightning,  and  turned 
Lycaon  into  a  wolf.      Ovid  Met.  1. 

With  respect  to  his  other  exploits,  some  of  them 
are  absurd  ;  others  are  highly  criminal,  if  taken  in  a 
literal  sense.  But  it  is  supposed  by  the  Abbe  Ba- 
nier  and  other  learned  writers  on  this  subject,  that 
they  are  merely  allegorical,  and  conceal  some  mean- 
ing, at  present  either  lost  to  us  or  open  to  conjecture. 
1st.  Such  for  instance  his  having  wooed  his  sister, 
Juno,  in  the  shape  of  a  crow ;  an  ill-boding  fowl 
one  would  suppose,  not  very  likely  to  captivate 
tlie  heart  of  a  tender  maid,  but,  perhaps,  the  croak- 
mg  thing  might  take  very  well  with  a  termagant, 
such  as  she  has  been  described  to  be.  2d.  Next, 
that  he  overcame  the  innocence  of  Danae,  daughter 
of  Acrisius,  king  of  the  Argives  ;  this  monarch  be- 
ing forewarned  by  the  oracle  that  he  would  perish 
by  the  hand  of  his  grandson  shut  up  his  only  child 
m  a  tower ;  Jupiter,  however  assumed  the  shape  of 


28 

a  shining  metal  called  gold,  (In  which  no  small  por 
tion  of  his  divinity  has  ever  since  resided,)  and  de- 
scending through  the  roof,  fell  into  the  lady's  lap. 
3d.  At  another  time  he  flew  into  the  arms  of  Leda, 
tlie  wife  of  T^iidarus,  in  the  shape  of  a  beautiful 
swan.  4tli.  In  the  likeness  of  a  wild  satyr,  he  be- 
haved like  a  ruffian  to  Antiope,  the  wife  of  Lycus, 
king  of  Thebes.  5th.  He  imposed  upon  Alcmena 
by  assuming  the  figure  of  her  husband  Amphitryon, 
6th.  In  the  shape  of  fire  he  won  the  heart  of  Egina, 
tlie  daughter  of  Asopus,  king  of  Boetia.  7th.  He 
deceived  Calisto  by  counterfeiting  the  modesty  and 
countenance  of  Diana;  yet,  he  shamefully  abandoned 
her  to  the  cruel  persecution  of  Juno,  who  transformed 
her  into  a  bear ;  but,  however,  commiserating  her 
condition,  he  placed  her  and  her  son  Areas  both  in 
the  heavens.  Calisto  Is  said  to  be  the  great  bear  and 
Areas  the  little.  8th.  He  sent  an  eagle  to  snatch  away 
Ganymede,  the  son  of  Tros,  as  he  hunted  upon  the 
mountain  Ida.  Or  rather  he  himself,  being  changed 
into  an  eagle,  took  him  unto  his  claws,  and  carried 
him  up  to  heaven.  He  offered  the  same  violence  to 
Asteria ;  the  daughter  of  Coeus,  a  young  lady  of  the 
greatest  modesty,  to  whom  he  appeared  in  the  shape 
of  an  eagle,  and  carried  her  away  in  his  talons.  9th, 
Personally  attached  to  Europa,  daughter  of  Agenor, 
king  of  Phoenicia,  he  ordered  Mercury  to  convey  her 
to  tlie  seashore,  where,  having  transformed  himself 
into  a  bull,  he  took  her  upon  his  back  and  transported 
her  Into  Crete.  The  bull  is  supposed  to  have  bee® 
the  ship  upon  which  a  bull  was  painted,  in  which  Eu- 
ropa  was  carried  away.  In  like  manner  the  horse 
Pegasus,  which  was  painted  upon  Bellerophon's  ship, 
and  the  ram,  which  was  painted  on  that  of  Phryxus 
and  Helle,  created  ample  matter  of  fiction  for  the  poets. 
But  to  return  to  our  fable  :  Agenor  Immediately  or- 
dered his  son  Cadmus  to  travel,  and  search  every 
\\  here  for  his  sister  Europa ;  which  he  did,  but  could 


29 

no  where  find  her.  Cadmus  dared  not  return  without 
her,  because,  by  a  sentence  not  less  unjust  to  him  than 
Idnd  to  his  sister,  his  father  had  banished  him  for 
ever  unless  he  found  her.  Wherefore  he  built  the 
city  of  Thebes,  not  far  from  the  mountain  Parnassus  ; 
and  as  it  happened  that  his  companions,  who  were 
with  him  were  devoured  by  a  certain  serpent,  while 
tliey  went  for  water ;  he,  to  avenge  their  death,  slew 
that  serpent ;  whose  teeth  he  took  out,  and,  by  the 
advice  of  Minerva,  sowed  them  in  the  ground  ;  and 
suddenly  sprouted  up  a  harvest  of  armed  soldiers, 
who,  quarrelling  among  themselves,  with  the  same 
speed  that  they  grew  up,  mowed  one  another  down, 
excepting  five  only,  by  whom  that  country  was  peo- 
pled afterward.  At  length  Cadmus  and  his  wife 
Hermione,  after  much  experience,  and  many  proofs 
of  the  inconstancy  of  fortmie,  were  changed  into 
serpents. 

He  is  said  to  have  invented  sixteen  of  the  letters  of 
the  Greek  alphabet ;  «,  /3,  y,  ^,  e,  i,  y,,  a,  ft,  v,  o,  ^,  ^, 
c,  T,  y,  which,  in  the  time  of  the  judges  of  Israel,  he 
brought  out  of  Phoenicia  into  Greece  :  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years  after  this,  Palamedes  added  four  more 
letters,  namely,  |,  6,  ^,  x^  in  the  time  of  the  siege  of 
Troy  ;  although  some  affirm  that  Epicharmus  invent- 
ed the  letters  6  and  x  •  and  six  hundred  and  fifty 
years  after  the  siege  of  Troy,  Simonides  invented 
the  other  four  letters,  namely,  n,  s',  ^,  4"'  Cadmus  is 
also  said  to  have  taught  the  manner  of  writing  in 
prose  ;  and  that  he  was  the  first  among  the  Greeks 
who  consecrated  statues  to  the  honour  of  the  gods, 

qUESTIOA'S  FOR  EXAMINATION, 

Mention  some  of  the  exploits  of  Jupiter? 
How  did  he  derive  his  name  and  honours  ? 
What  did  he  to  Lycaon,  and  why? 
"What  is  his  other  exploits  ? 
What  happened  to  Calisto  ? 

3* 


30 

Wliat  circumstance  occurred  to  Ganymede  and  Asteria?  r 

Exjilaiu  the  fable  respecting  Europa  ? 
What  did  Agenor  do  to  recover  his  daughter? 
What  city  did  Cadmus  build,  and  what  exploit  did  he  pbiform 
on  a  serpent  ? 

Which  of  the  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet  did  Cadmus  inTent? 

Who  addetl  the  others,  and  when  ^ 

What  besides  did  Cadmus  do  for  the  benefit  of  mankind  ? 

SEC.  4.— THE  NAMES  OF  JUPITER, 

Can  hardly  be  numbered  ;  so  many  did  he  obtain, 
either  from  the  places  \^  here  he  lived  and  was  wor- 
shipped, or  from  the  things  diat  he  did.  The  most 
remarkable  shall  be  given  alphabetically. 

The  Greeks  called  him  Ammon,  or  Hammon,  which 
name  signifies  sandy.  He  obtained  this  name  first 
in  Lybia,  where  he  was  worshipped,  under  the  figure 
of  a  ram  ;  because,  when  Bacchus  was  athirst  in  the 
fabulous  deserts  of  Arabia,  and  implored  the  assist- 
ance of  Jupiter,  Jupiter  appeared  in  the  form  of  a  ram, 
opened  a  ibuntain  with  his  foot,  and  discovered  it  to 
him.  But  others  give  this  reason,  because  Jupiter 
in  war  wore  a  helmet,  whose  crest  was  a  ram's  head. 

The  Babylonians  and  Assyrians,  whom  he  govern- 
ed, called  him  Belus,  who  was  the  impious  author  of 
idolatry  :  and  because  of  the  uncertainty  of  his  de- 
scent, they  believed  that  he  had  neither  father  nor 
mother ;  and,  therefore,  he  was  thought  the  first  of 
all  gods.  In  difierent  places,  and  languages,  he 
was  afterwards  called  Beel,  Baal,  Beelphegor,  Beel- 
zebub, and  Belzemen. 

Jupiter  was  called  Capitolinus,  from  the  Capito- 
Jine  hill,  upon  the  top  of  which  he  had  the  first  tem- 
ple that  ever  was  built  in  Rome ;  this  Tarquin  the 
Elder  determined  to  build,  Tarquin  the  Proud  did 
build,  and  Horatius,  the  consul,  dedicated. 

He  was  also  called  Tarpeius,  from  the  Tarpeiau 
rock,  on  which  this  temple  was  built.  He  was  hke- 
wise  styled  Optimus  Maximum,  from  his  power  and 
wiUingness  to  profit  all  men. 


31 

He  was  also  called  Ciistos.  There  is  in  Nero's 
coins  an  image  of  him  sitting  on  his  throne,  which 
bears  in  one  hand  thunder,  and  in  the  other  a  spear, 
with  this  inscription,  Jupiter  Custos. 

In  some  forms  of  oaths  he  was  commonly  called 
Diespiter,  the  father  of  light ;  as  we  shall  further 
remark  presently  under  the  word  Lapis  ;  and  to  the 
same  purpose  he  was  by  the  Cretans  called  Dies. 

The  title  of  Dodonseus  was  given  him  from  the 
city  Dodona  in  Chaonia,  which  was  so  called  from 
Dodona,  a  nymph  of  the  sea.  Near  to  this  city 
there  was  a  grove  sacred  to  Jupiter,  which  was 
planted  with  oaks ;  and  famous,  because  it  was  the 
mast  ancient  oracle  of  all  Greece.  Two  doves  de- 
livered responses  there  to  those  who  consulted  it : 
or,  as  others  used  to  say,  the  leaves  of  the  oaks 
themselves  became  vocal,  and  gave  forth  oracles. 

He  was  named  Elicius,  because  the  prayers  of  men 
may  bring  him  down  from  heaven. 

Quod  ccelo  precibus  eliciatur. 

"  Eliciunt  ccelo  te  Jupiter,  unde  Minores 

Nunc  quoque  te  celebrant,  Eliciumque  vocant." — 

Fast  3. 
Jove  can't  resist  the  just  man's  cries, 
They  bring  him  down,  e'en  from  the  skies  j 
Hence  he's  Elicius  call'd. 

The  name  Feretrius  is  given  him,  because  be 
smites  his  enemies,  or  because  he  is  the  giver  of 
peace  ;  for  when  peace  w^as  made,  the  sceptre  by 
which  the  ambassadors  swore,  and  the  flint-stone  on 
which  they  confirmed  their  agreement,  were  brought 
out  of  his  temple  :  or  lastly,  because,  after  they  had 
overcome  their  enemies,  they  carried  the  grand 
spoils  [spolia  opima)  to  his  temple.  Romulus  first 
presented  such  spoils  to  Jupiter,  after  he  had  slain 
Acron,  king  of  Csenina ;  and  Cornelius  Gallus  of- 
fered the  same  spoils,  after  he  had  conquered  Tolum- 
mus,  king  of  Hetruria  j  and  thirdly,  M.  Marcellus, 


32 

when  he  had  vanquished  Viridomarus,  khig  of  the 
Gauls,  as  we  read  in  Virgil : 

*'  Tertiaque  arma  Patri  suspendet  capta  Quirino.'* 

And  the  third  spoils  shall  grace  Feretrian  Jove. — ^n.  6 

Those  spoils  were  called  opima,  which  one  general 
took  from  the  other  in  battle. 

Fulminator,  or  Ceraiinius,  in  Greek  Kefetwvies,  is 
Jupiter's  title,  from  hurling  thunder,  which  is  thoughv 
to  be  his  proper  office,  if  we  beUeve  the  poet : 

-0  qui  res  hominumque  Deumque 


^ternis  regis  imperils,  et  fulmine  terres." — 

Virg.  JEn.  1.  229. 

0  king  of  gods  and  men,  whose  awful  hand 
Disperses  thunder  on  the  seas  and  land  ; 
Dispensing  all  with  absolute  command. 

In  Lycia  they  worshipped  him  under  the  name  of 
Gragus,  r^a^^iog  ^Grapsios']  and  Genitor. 

In  iEgium,  about  the  seacoast,  he  is  said  to  have 
had  a  temple  with  the  name  of  Homogynus. 

At  Praeneste  he  was  called  Imperator.  There  was 
a  most  famous  statue  of  him  at  that  place,  afterward 
translated  to  Rome. 

He  was  called  Latialis,  because  he  was  worshipped 
m  Latium,  a  comitry  of  Italy ;  whence  the  Latin 
festivals  are  denominated,  to  which  all  the  inhabit- 
ants of  those  cities  of  Italy  resorted,  who  desired  to 
be  partakers  of  the  solemnity ;  and  brought  to  Ju- 
piter several  oblations ;  particularly,  a  bull  was  sa- 
crificed at  tliat  time,  in  the  common  name  of  them 
all,  of  which  every  one  took  a  part. 

The  name  Lapis,  or  as  others  write,  Lapideus, 
was  given  him  by  the  Romans,  who  believed  that  an 
oath*  made  in  the  name  of  Jupiter  Lapis,  was  the 
most  solemn  of  all  oaths.     And  it  is  derived  either 

*  Juramentum  per  Jovem  Lapidem  omnium  sanctissimum 
Cic,  7.  ap.  12. 


,     33 

from  the  stone  which  was  presented  to  Saturn  by  his 
wife  Ops,  who  said  it  was  Jupiter,  in  which  sense 
Eusebius  says,  that  Lapis  reigned  in  Crete  ;  or  from 
the  flint-stone,  which,  in  making  bargains,  the  swearer 
held  in  his  hand,  and  said,  *"  If  knowingly  I  deceive, 
so  letDiespiter,  saving  the  city  and  the  capitol,  cast  me 
away  from  all  that  is  good,  as  I  cast  away  this 
stone  ;"  upon  which  he  threw  the  stone  away.  The 
Romans  had  another  form,  not  milike  to  this,  of 
making  bargains,  which  may  be  mentioned  here  : 
f "  If  with  evil  intention  I  at  any  time  deceive  ;  upon 
that  day,  O  !  Jupiter,  so  strike  thou  me,  as  I  shall 
this  day  strike  this  swine  ;  and  so  much  the  more 
strike  thou,  as  thou  art  the  more  able  and  skilfid  to 
do  it ;"  he  then  struck  down  the  swine. 

In  the  language  of  the  people  of  Campania,  he  is 
called  Lucetius,  from  lux  ;  and  among  the  Latins  Di- 
espiter,  from  dies.     Which  names  were  given  to  Ju- 

Eiter,  "  because  he  cheers  and  comforts  us  with  the 
ght  of  the  day,  as  much  as  with  life  itself :"  or,  be- 
cause he  was  believed  to  be  the  father  of  light. 

The  people  of  Ehs  used  to  celebrate  him  by  the 
title  of  Martins. 

He  was  also  called  Muscarius,  because  he  drove 
away  the  flies  ;  for  when  the  rehgious  exercises  of 
Hercules  were  interrupted  by  a  multitude  of  flies,  he 
immediately  oflTered  a  sacrifice  to  Jupiter,  wliich  be- 
ing finished,  all  the  flies  flew  away. 

He  was  styled  Nicephorus,  that  is,  carrying  vic- 
tory :  and  by  the  oracle  of  Jupiter  Nicephorus,  em- 
peror Adrian  was  told,  that  he  should  be  promoted 
to  the  empire.     Livy  often  mentions  him  5  and  ma- 


*  Si  sciens  fallo,  me  Diespiter,  salva  urbe  arceque,  bonis  eji 
cial  ut  ego  hunc  lapidem. —  Fest  ap.  Lil. 

t  Si  dolo  malo  aliquando  fallam,  tu  illo  <iie,  Jiipiler,  me  siB 
ferito,  ut  ego  hunc  porcum  hodie  feriam  ;  tantoque  magisferito, 
quanto  raagis  poles,  pollesque.    Liv.  1.  1 


34 

ny  coins  are  extant,  in  which  is  the  image  of  Jupi- 
ter bearing  victory  in  his  hand. 

He  was  called  Opitulus,  or  Opitulator,  the  helper, 
and  Centipeda,  from  his  stability ;  because  those 
things  stand  secure  and  firm  which  have  many  feeL 
He  was  called  Stabilitor  and  Tigellus,  because  he 
supports  the  world  :  Almus  and  Alumnus,  because 
be  cherishes  all  things. 

He  was  styled  Olympius,  from,  Oh-mpus,  the  name 
of  the  master  who  taught  him,  and  of  the  heaven 
wherein  he  resides,  or  of  a  city  which  stood  near  the 
mountain  Olympus,  and  was  anciently  celebrated 
far  and  near,  because  there  a  temple  was  dedicated 
to  Jupiter,  and  games  solemnized  every  five  years. 
To  this  Jupiter  Olympus,  the  first  cup  was  sacri- 
ficed in  their  festivals. 

When  the  Gauls  besieged  the  capitol,  an  altar  was 
erected  to  Jupiter  Pistor  ;  because  he  put  it  into  the 
minds  of  the  Romans,  to  make  loaves  of  bread,  and 
throw  them  into  the  Gaul's  tents  -,  upon  which  the 
siege  was  raised. 

The  Athenians  erected  a  statue  to  him,  and  wor- 
shipped it  upon  the  momitain  Hymettus,  giving  him 
in  that  place  the  title  of  Pluvius ;  this  title  is  nien- 
tioned  by  Tibullus : 

"  Arida  nee  Pluvio  supplicat  herba  Jovi." 

Prsedator  was  also  his  name,  not  because  he  pro- 
tected robbers,  but  because  out  of  all  the  booty  taken 
from  the  enemy,  one  part  was  due  to  him.  For 
when  the  Romans  went  to  war,  they  used  to  devote 
to  the  gods  a  part  of  the  spoil  that  they  should  get, 
and  for  that  reason  there  was  a  temple  at  Rome 
dedicated  to  Jupiter  Prsedator. 

He  was  styled* Quirinus,  as  appears  by  that  verse 
of  Virgil,  cited  above,  when  we  spoke  of  the  name  of 
Feretrius. 


35 

Rex  and  Regiiator  are  his  common  titles  in  Vir- 
gil, Homer,  and  Ennius. 

Jupiter  was  also  called  Stator,  which  title  he  first 
had  from  Romulus  on  this  occasion  :  when  Romulus 
was  fighting  with  the  Sabines,  his  soldiers  began  to 
fly ;  upon  which  Romulus,  as  Livy  relates,  thus 
prayed  to  Jupiter  :*  "  O  !  thou  father  of  the  gods 
and  mankind,  at  this  place  at  least  drive  back  the 
enemy,  take  away  the  fear  of  the  Romans,  and  stop 
their  dishonourable  flight.  And  I  vow  to  build  a 
temple  to  thee  upon  the  same  place,  that  shall  bear 
the  name  of  Jupiter  Stator,  for  a  monument  to  pos- 
terity, that  it  was  from  thy  immediate  assistance  that 
Rome  received  its  preservation."  After  this  prayer 
tlie  soldiers  stopped,  and  returning  again  to  the  bat- 
tle, obtained  tlie  victory  5  upon  which  Romulus  con- 
secrated a  temple  to  Jupiter  Stator. 

The  Greeks  called  him  Xeorup  [^Soterl  Servator^ 
the  saviour,  because  he  delivered  them  from  the 
Medes.  Conservator  also  was  his  title,  as  appears 
from  divers  of  Dioclesian's  coins,  on  which  were  his 
effigies,  with  thunder  brandished  in  his  right  hand, 
and  a  spear  in  his  left ;  with  this  inscription :  CoU' 
servatori.  In  others,  instead  of  thmider,  he  holds 
forth  a  little  image  of  victory,  with  this  inscription : 
Jovi  Conservatori  Orbis,  To  Jupiter  the  conservator 
of  the  world. 

The  augurs  called  him  Tonans  and  Fulgens.  And 
emperor  Augustus  dedicated  a  temple  to  him,  so  call- 
ed ;  wherein  was  a  statue  of  Jupiter,  to  which  a  little 
bell  was  fastened.  He  is  also  called  B/JovTa/o?  [Bror^ 
taiosl  by  Orpheus  ;  and  Tonitrualis,  the  thunderer, 
by  Apuleius  ;  and  an  inscription  is  to  be  seen  upon 
a  stone  at  Rome,  Jovi  BrontontL 

*  Tu  pater  Deum  hominumque,  hinc  saltern  arce  hostem,  deme 
terrorem  Rojnanis,  fugamque  foedam  siste.  H»c  ego  tibi  templum 
Statori  Jovi,  quod  monumentum  sit  posteris  tua  praesenti  ope 
servatam  urbem  esse,  voveo.    Liv.  1.  1. 


36 

Trioculus,  rj).o<p6xXfA.oi  [Triepthahios]  was  an  epi- 
thet g-iven  him  by  the  Grecians,  who  thought  that 
he  had  three  eyes,  with  one  of  which  he  observed 
the  afiairs  of  heaven,  with  another  the  afiairs  of  the 
earth,  and  with  tlie  third  he  viewed  the  sea  affairs. 
There  was  a  statue  of  him,  of  this  kind,  in  Priamus' 
palace,  at  Troy ;  which,  beside  the  two  usual  eyes, 
had  a  third  in  the  forehead. 

Vejovis,  or  T^ejupiter,  and  Vedius,  that  is,  "  lit- 
tle Jupiter,"  was  his  title  when  he  was  described 
without  his  thmider,  viewing  angrily  short  spears 
which  he  held  in  his  hand.  The  Romans  accounted 
him  a  fatal  and  noxious  deity ;  and  therefore  they 
worshipped  him  only  that  he  might  not  hurt  them* 

Agrippa  dedicated  a  pantheon  to  Jupiter  Ultor, 
"the  avenger ;"  at  Rome,  according  to  Pliny. 

He  was  likewise  called  Xenius,  or  Hospitalis,  be- 
cause he  was  thought  the  author  of  the  laws  and  cus- 
toms concerning  hospitality.  Whence  the  Greeks 
call  presents  given  to  strangers  xenia,  as  the  Latins 
called  them  lauiia. 

Zfy^  [^Zeiis]  is  the  proper  name  of  Jupiter,  because 
he  gives  hfe  to  animals. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXJlMmATJOJT, 

Had  Jupiter  many  names  ? 
What  did  the  Greeks  call  him  ? 
"What  name  did  he  obtain  in  Lybia? 
By  Avhom  and  on  what  account  was  he  called  Belus  ? 
Why  was  he  called  Capitolinus  ? 

Why  was  he  called  Tarpeius,  and  why  Optimus  MaiimiLS? 
How  did  he  obtain  the  title  of  Diespiter  ? 
Why  was  he  styled  Dodoneeus  ? 
Why  was  he  named  Elicius  ? 

^Explain  the  reason  why  the  name  Feretrius  was  given  him  ? 
Why  was  he  called  Fulminator  ? 
What  was  he  called  at  Prieneste  ? 
W'hy  was  he  called  Latialis  ? 

How  did  he  obtain  the  name  Lapis,  and  from  what  U  U  dD- 
rived  ? 
What  was  the  Roman  way  of  making  bargains  ? 
Why  was  he  called  Lucetius  •* 


37  7vv 

Why  was  he  styled  Muscarius,  and  >vhy  JNl^Wph^ns  ? 

Why  was  he  denommated  Opitulatoi',  Centip^,da,  Almus,  and 
Ruminus  ?  ^  > 

On  what  account  was  he  denominated  Olympius,  Pistor,  Pitt- 
vius,  Prajdator  ? 

What  are  his  titles  in  Virgil,  Homer,  and  Ennius? 

How  did  he  obtain  the  title  Stator  ? 

Why,  and  by  whom  was  he  called  Soter  ? 

What  was  he  called  by  the  augurs? 

Why  Avas  he  called  Triocuhas  .'' 

Why  was  he  called  Xenius,  and  why  Zeus  ? 

SEC.  5.— THE  SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  FABLE,  AND 
WHAT  IS  UNDERSTOOD  BY  THE  NAME  JUPITER. 

Natural  philosophers  many  times  think  that  heaven 
IS  meant  by  the  name  Jupiter  :  whence  many  authors 
express  the  thunder  and  lightning,  which  came  from 
heaven,  by  these  phrases :  Jove  tonante,-  fulgente,  <^c» 
and  in  this  sense  Virgil  used  the  word  Olympus. 

"  Panditur  interea  domus  omnipotentis  Olympi."  Ma.  10. 
Meanwhile  the  gates  of  heaven  unfold. 

Others  liave  imagined  that  the  air,  and  the  things 
that  are  therein  contained,  as  thunder,  lightnings 
rain,  meteors,  and  the  like,  are  signified  by  the  same 
name.  In  which  sense  Horace  is  to  be  understood, 
when  he  says  :  sub  Jove,  that  is,  "  in  the  open  air." 

Some,  on  the  contrary,  call  the  air  Juno,  and  the 
fii'e  Jupiter,  by  which  the  air  being  warmed  becomes 
fit  for  the  production  of  things.  Odiers,  again,  call 
the  sky  Jupiter,  and  the  earth  Juno  :  because  out  of 
the  earth  all  things  spring ;  which  Virgil  has  ele- 
gantly expressed  in  the  second  book  of  his  Georgics  ; 

''  Turn  pater  omnipotens  fcecundis  imbribis  aether, 
Cohjugis  in  gremium  lets  descendit,  et  omnes 
Magnus  alit,  magno  cbmmistus  corpore,  foetus." 

Euripides  thought  so,  when  he  said  that  the  sky 
ought  to  be  called  Summus  Deus,  "  the  great  God." 
Plato's  opinion  was  different ;  for  he  thought  that  the 
sun  was  Jupiter ;  and  Homer,  together  with  the 
aforesaid  Euripides,  thinks  that  he  is  fate;  which 
4 


38 

fate  is,  according  to  Cicero's  definition, — *"  The 
cause  from  all  eternity  why  such  things  as  are  al- 
ready past,  were  done  3  and  why  such  things  as  are 
doing  at  present,  he  as  they  are;  and  why  such 
things  as  are  to  follow  hereafter,  shall  follow  ac- 
cordingly." In  shortj  others  by  Jupiter  understand 
the  soul  of  the  world ;  which  is  diffused  not  only 
through  all  human  bodies,  but  hkewise  through  all 
the  parts  of  the  universe,  as  Virgil  poetically  de- 
scribes it : 

^The  heaven  and  earth's  compacted  frame, 

And  flowing  AVaters,  and  the  starry  frame, 
And  both  the  radiant  lights,  one  common  soul 
Inspires,  and  feeds,  and  animates  the  AThole. 
This  active  mind,  infus'd  through  all  the  space, 
Unites  and  mingles  with  the  mighty  mass. — iEn.  6. 

Jupiter  is  usually  represented  by  the  ancients  sts 
governing  the  world  by  his  providence  ;  and  is  de- 
scribed as  viewing  from  an  eminence  the  pursuits 
and  contentions  of  mankind,  and  weighing  in  his 
scales  their  fortunes  and  their  merits.  He  is  the 
moderator  of  the  differences  of  the  gods,  and  when- 
ever any  of  the  inferior  deities  asked  him  a  favour, 
he  was  disposed  to  nod  his  assent : 

He,  whose  all-conscious  eyes  the  world  behold, 

Th'  eternal  thunderer,  sat  enthron'd  in  gold :  " 

High  heav'n  the  footstool  for  his  feet  he  makes, 

And  W'ide  beneath  him,  all  Olympus  shakes. 

He  spake  ;  and  awful  bends  his  sable  browns, 

Shakes  his  ambrosial  curls,  and  gives  the  nod  ; 

The  stamp  of  fate  and  sanction  of  the  god  : 

High  heaven,  w  ith  trembling,  the  dread  signal  took, 

And  all  Olympus  to  the  centre  shook. — Homer. 

AH  heaven  is  represented  as  shaken  with  his  ter- 
rors, and  neither  men  nor  gods  had  the  temerity  to 
oppose  his  will ; 

*  .interna  rerum  causa;  cur  ea,  quae  preterierint,  facta  sint; 
et  ea,  quag  instant,  fiant ;  et  ea,  quas  consequentur,  futura  sint. 
C*c.  de  Divin.  1. 


%: 


.^ 


39^ 

Then  spaku  th'  almighty  father  as  he  sat 
Enthron'd  in  gold ;  and  clos'd  the  great  debate, 
Th'  attentive  winds  a  solemn  silence  keep ; 
The  wond'ring  waves  lie  level  on  the  deep  ; 
Earth  to  his  centre  shook  ;  high  heav'n  was  aw'd, 
And  all  th'  immortal  powi-s  stood  trembling  at  the  god. 

Virgil. 

questiojxs  for  EXAMIKATION. 

What  do  philosophers  understand  by  the  word  Jupiter  ? 
What  meaning  do  others  give  of  it  ? 
What  is  the  example  from  Horace  ? 
How  does  Virgil  understand  it  in  the  Georgics  ? 
Repeat  the  original  and  translation  ? 
Give  me  the  opinion  of  Euripides,  Plato,  and  Homer  ? 
Repeat  the  lines  from  the  sixth  iEneid,  and  point  out  the  ap- 
plication ? 

How  is  Jupiter  represented  by  the  ancients  ? 
Repeat  the  lines  from  Homer  ? 
How  is  he  lepresented  by  Virgil? 


CHAPTER  n. 

SEC.  I.— APOLLO.    HIS  IMAGE  AND  DESCENT. 

Apollo  is  represented  as  a  beardless  youth,  witii 
long  hair,  comely  and  graceful,  who  wears  a  laurel 
crown,  and  shines  in  garments  embroidered  with 
gold,  with  a  bow  and  arrows  in  one  hand,  and  a 
harp  in  the  other.  He  is  at  other  times  described 
holding  a  shield  in  onxi  hand  and  the  Graces  in  the 
other.  And  because  he  has  a  threefold  power  in 
heaven,  where  he  is  called  Sol ;  in  earth,  where  he 
is  named  Liber  Pater  ;  and  in  hell,  where  he  is  styled 
Apollo  ;  he  is  usually  painted  with  these  three  things : 
a  harp,  a  shield,  and  arrows.  The  harp  shows  that 
he  bears  rule  in  heaven,  where  all  things  are  full  of 
harmony ;  the  shield  describes  his  office  in  earth, 
where  he  gives  health  and  safety  to  terrestrial  crea^ 
tures ;  his  arrows  show  his  authority  in  hell,  for  who* 
ever  he  strikes  with  them,  he  sends  them  into  bell. 


40 

Sometimes  he  is  painted  with  a  crow  and  a  hawk 
flying  over  his  head,  a  wolf  and  a  laurel  tree  on  one 
side,  and  a  swan  and  a  cock  on  the  other ;  and  un- 
der his  feet  grasshoppers  creeping.  The  crow  is  sa- 
cred to  him,  because  he  foretells  the  weather,  and 
shows  the  different  changes  of  it  by  the  clearness  or 
hoarseness  of  his  voice.  The  swan  is  likewise  en- 
dued v/ith  a  divination,*  because  foreseeing  his  hap- 
piness in  death,  he  dies  with  singing  and  pleasure. 
The  wolf  is  not  unacceptable  to  him,  not  only  be- 
cause he  spared  his  flock  when  he  was  a  shepherd, 
but  the  sharpness  of  his  eyes  represents  the  foresight 
of  prophecy.  The  laurel  tree  is  of  a  very  hot  na- 
ture, always  flourishing,  and  conducing  to  divination 
and  poetic  raptures  ;  and  the  leaves  of  it  put  under 
the  pillow,  was  said  to  produce  true  dreams.  The 
hawk  has  eyes  as  bright  as  the  sun ;  the  cock  fore- 
tells his  rising;  and  the  grasshoppers  so  entirely 
depend  on  him,  that  they  owe  their  rise  and  sub- 
sistence to  his  heat  and  influence. 

There  were  four  Apollos  :  the  first  and  most  an- 
cient of  them  was  born  of  Vulcan,  and  was  the  tute- 
lary god  of  the  Athenians  ;f  the  second  was  a  Cre- 
tan, a  son  of  one  of  the  Corybantes  ;  the  third  was 
born  of  Jupiter  and  Latona  ;  the  fourth  was  born  in 
Arcadia,  called  by  the  Arcadians,  Nomius.  But 
though,  as  Cicero  says,  there  were  so  many  Apollos, 
yet  the  rest  of  them  are  seldom  mentioned,  and  all 
tliat  they  did  is  ascribed  to  one  only,  namely,  to  him 
that  was  born  of  Jupiter  and  Latona,  which  is  thuj 
represented : 

Latona,  the  daughter  of  Coeus  the  Titan,  con- 
ceived twins  by  Jupiter  :  Juno,  incensed  at  it,  sent 
the  serpent  Python  against  her ;  and  Latona,  to  es- 

*  Cygiii  non  sine  causa  Apollini  dicati  sunt,  quod  ab  eo  divi- 
tiatiouem  habere  videantur  ;  quia  pra^videntes  quid  in  morte  bo- 
ni  sit,  cum  cantu  et  voluptate  raoriuntur.     Cic.  Tuscul.  1. 

t  Lanier's  Mylhologv. 


41 

cape  the  serpent,  fled  into  the  island  of  Delos ; 
where  she  brought  forth  Apollo  and  Diana  at  the 
same  birth. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATIOK. 

How  is  Apollo  represented  ? 

With  what  things  is  he  painted,  and  why  ? 

Why  are  the  crow,  hawk,  wolf,  swan,  and  laurel,  consecrated 
to  him  ?  • 

How  many  Apollos  were  there,  and  which  is  the  principal  ? 

Where  was  Apollo  born,  and  what  was  the  occasion  of  bis 
birth  at  Dftlos  ? 

SEC.  2.— ACTIONS  OF  APOLLO. 

Apollo  was  advanced  to  the  highest  degree  of 
honour  and  worship  by  these  four  means,  viz  :  by 
the  invention  of  physic,  music,  poetry,  and  rhetoric, 
which  is  ascribed  to  him  ;  and,  therefore,  he  is  sup- 
posed to  preside  over  the  Muses.  It  is  said  that  he 
taught  the  arts  of  foretelling  events,  and  shooting 
with  arrows ;  when,  therefore,  he  had  benefited  man- 
kind infinitely  by  these  favours,  they  worshipped 
him  as  a  god.  Hear  how  gloriously  he  himself  re- 
peats his  own  accomplishments  of  mind  and  nature, 
where  he  magnifies  himself  to  the  flying  nymph 
whom  he  passionately  loved. 

-"  Nescis,  temeraria,  nescis 


Quem  fuglas,  ideoque  fugis- 


Jupiter  est  genitor.     Per  me  quod  eritque,  fuitque, 
Estque,  patet.     Per  me  concordant  carmina  nervis; 
Certa  quidem  nostra  est,  nostra  tamen  una  sagitta 
Certior,  in  vacuo,  quae  vulnera  pectore  fecit. 
Inventum  medicina  meum  est,  opiferque  per  orbem 
Dicor ;  et  herbarum  est  subjecta  potentia  nobis." 

Ov.  Met,  1. 

Stay,  nymph,  he  cried,  I  follow  not  a  foe  ; 
Thus  from  the  lion  darts  the  trembling  doe : 
Thou  shunn'st  a  god,  and  shunn'st  a  god  that  loves. 
But  think  from  whom  thou  dost  so  rashly  fly, 
Nor  basely  born,  nor  shepherd's  swain  am  I. 

—What  shall  be, 

Or  is,  or  ever  was,  in  fate  I  see. 
4* 


42 

Mine  is  the  invention  of  tiie  charming  lyre  ; 
Sweet  notos  and  heavenly  numbers  1  inspire. 
Sure  is  my  how.  unenirig  is  my  dart, 
But  ah  !   more  deadly  his,  \\  ho  pierc'd  my  heart. 
Med'cine  is  mine  ;  vvliat  lierbs  and  simjoles  grow 
In  fields,  in  forests,  all  their  powers  I  know, 
And  am  the  great  physician  call'd  below. 

His  principal  actions  are  as  follows  : 

1.  He  destroyed  all  the  Cyclops,  the  forgers  of 
Jupiter's  thunderbolts,  with  his  arrows,  to  revenge 
the  death  ofiEsculapius,  his  son,  whom  Jupiter  had 
killed  with  thunder,  because  by  the  help  of  his 
physic  he  revived  the  dead.  ^For  this  act  Apollo 
was  cast  down  froui  heaven  and  deprived  of  his  di- 
vinity, exposed  to  the  calamities  of  the  world,  and 
commanded  to  live  in  banishment  upon  the  earth.  In 
this  distress  he  was  compelled  by  want  to  look  after 
Admetus'  cattle  :  where,  it  is  said,  he  first  invented 
and  formed  a  harp.  After  this.  Mercury  got  an  op- 
portunity to  drive  away  a  few  of  the  cattle  of  his 
herd  by  stealth  ;  and  while  Apollo  complained  and 
threatened  to  punish  him,  unless  he  brought  the 
same  cattle  back  again,  his  harp  was  also  stolen  by  the 
samef  god  5  so  that  his  anger  was  changed  to 
laughter. 

2.  He  raised  the  walls  of  the  city  of  Troy,  by  the 
music  of  his  harp  alone  ;  if  we  may  believe  the  poet : 

"  Ilion  aspices,  firmataque  turribus  altis 

Mffiui,  ApoUinai  structa  canore  lyrai." — Ovid.  Ep.  Parid. 

Troy  you  shall  see,  and  walls  divine  admire; 
Built  by  the  music  of  Apollo's  lyre. 

Some  say  that  there  was  a  stone,  upon  which 
Apollo  only  laid  down  his  harp,  and  the  stone  by 
the  touch  became  so  melodious,  that  whenever  it  was 
struck  with  another  stone,  it  sounded  like  a  harp. 

3.  By  misfortune  he  killed  Hyacinthus,  a  boy 
that  he  loved.     For,  while  Hyacinthus  and  he  were 

*  Lucian  Dial.  Mort. 
t  Hor.  Carm  1. 


43 

playing  together  at  quoits,  Zephyrus  was  enraged, 
because  Apollo  was  better  beloved  by  Hyacinthus 
than  himself;  and,  having  an  opportunity  of  re- 
venge, he  blew  the  quoit  that  Apollo  cast,  against 
the  head  of  Hyacinthus,  by  which  blow  he  fell  down 
dead.  Apollo  caused  the  blood  of  the  youth,  that 
was  spilt  upon  the  earth,  to  produce  flowers  called 
violets,  as  Ovid  finely  expresses  it : 

"  Ecce  cruor,  qui  fusus  humi  signavera.t  herbam, 
Desinit  esse  cruor;  Tyrioque  nitentinr  ostro 
Flos  oritur,  formamque  capit,  quam  lilia ;  si  non 
Purpureus  color  huic,  argenteus  esse  in  illis. ' — Met.  10. 

Behold  the  blood,  which  late  the  grass  had  dy'd, 
Was  now  no  blood  ;  from  which  a  flower  full  blown, 
Far  brighter  than  the  Tyrian  scarlet  shone, 
Which  seem'd  the  same,  or  did  resemble  right 
A  lily,  changing  but  the  red  to  white. 

m^  Besides,  he  was  passionately  fond  of  Cyparissus, 
^^ginother  boy,  who,  when  he  had  unfortunately  killed 
a  fine  deer,  which  he  exceedingly  loved  and  had 
brought  up  from  its  birth,  was  so  melancholy  for 
his  misfortune,  that  he  constantly  bewailed  the  loss 
of  his  deer,  and  refused  all  comfort.  Apollo,  be- 
cause he  begged  of  the  god  that  his  mourning  might 
be  made  perpetual,  in  pity  changed  him  into  a  cj^press 
tree,  the  branches  of  which  were  always  used  at  fu- 
nerals. 


" munusque  supremum, 

Hoc  petit  a  superis,  ut  tempore  lugeat  omni, — 
Ingemuit,  tristisque  Deus,  lugebere  nobis, 
Lugebisque  alios,  aderisque  dolentibus,  inquit" 

Ov.  Met,  10. 

Implores  that  he  might  never  cease  to  mourn, 
When  Phoebus  sighing,  I  for  thee  will  mourn, 
Mourn  thou  for  others,  hearses  still  adorn. 

4.  He  fell  violently  in  love  with  the  virgin 
Daphne,  so  famous  for  her  modesty.  He  pursued 
her,  but  while  she  fled  from  the  violence  of  his  pas- 


44 

sion,  she  was  changed  into  a  laurel,  which  remains 
always  flourishing,  and  always  pure. 

5.  He  courted  also  a  long  time  the  nymph  Bolina, 
but  never  could  gain  her ;  for  she  chose  rather  to 
tlirow  herself  into  the  river  and  be  drowned,  than 
yield  to  his  wishes. 

6.  Leucothoe,  the  daughter  of  Orchamus,  king  of 
Babylon,  was  not  so  tenacious.  Her  father  could 
not  bear  the  disgrace  brought  on  his  family,  and 
buried  her  alive.  Apollo  was  greatly  grieved  at 
this,  and  though  he  could  not  bring  her  again  to  life, 
he  poured  nectar  upon  the  dead  body,  and  thereby 
turned  it  into  a  tree  that  drops  frankincense. 

"  Nectare  adorato  spargit  corpusque  locumque, 
Multaque  praequestus,  tanges  tamen  aethera,  dixit. 
Protinus  imbutum  coelesti  nectare  corpus 
Dellcuit,  terraaique  suo  madefecit  adore  ; 
Virgaque  per  glebas,  sensim  radicibus  actis, 
Thurea  surresit ;  tumulumque  cacumine  rupit." 

Ov.  Met.  4. 

He  mourned  her  loss,  and  sprinkled  all  her  hearse 
With  balmy  nectar,  and  more  precious  tears. 
Then  said  since  fate  does  here  our  joys  defer, 
Thou  shalt  ascend  to  heav'n  and  bless  me  there 
Her  body  straight  embalm'd  with  heav'nly  art, 
Did  a  sweet  odour  to  the  ground  impart, 
And  from  the  grave  a  beauteous  tree  arise, 
That  cheers  the  gods  with  pleasing  sacrifice. 

The  attachment  of  Leucothoe  and  Apollo  had 
been  discovered  to  her  father  by  her  sister  Clytie, 
whom  Apollo  formerly  loved,  but  now  deserted : 
which  she  seeing,  pined  away,  with  her  eyes  con- 
tinually looking  up  to  the  sun,  and  at  last  was 
changed  into  a  flower  called  a  sun-flower,  or  helio^ 
trope.     Ovid  Met.  4. 

7.  Apollo  was  challenged  in  music  by  Marsyas,  a 
proud  musician ;  and  when  he  had  overcome  him, 
Apollo  slayed  him  for  his  temerity,  and  converted 
bim  into  the  river  of  that  name  in  Phrygia. 

8.  Midas,  king  of  Phrygia,  having  foolishly  de- 


45  V      ■ 

termined  the  victory  to  Pan,  when  Apollo  and  he 
sang  together,  Apollo  stretched  his  ears  to  the  length 
and  shape  of  asses'  ears.  IMidas  endeavoured  to 
hide  his  disgrace  hy  his  hair  :  but  since  it  was  im- 
possible to  conceal  it  from  his  barber,  he  prevailed 
with  him  by  great  promises,  not  to  divulge  what  he 
saw.  But  the  barber  went  and  dug  a  hole,  and  put- 
ting his  mouth  to  it,  whispered  these  words,  "  King 
Midas  has  asses'  ears  :"  and  the  reeds  that  grew 
out  of  that  hole,  if  they  were  moved  by  the  least 
blast  of  wind,  uttered  the  same  words,  viz,  "  King 
Midas  has  the  ears  of  an  ass." 

Secedit,  huraumque 


Effodit,  et  domini  quales  conspexerit  aures, 

Voce  refert  parva." Ovid  Mel.  15. 

He  dug  a  hole,  and  in  it  whispering  said, 

What  monstrous  ears  sprout  from  king  Midas'  head ! 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXAMIJVATIOJV. 

How  was  Apollo  advanced  to  honour  ? 

Repeat  the  description  of  himself,  as  given  by  Ovid.  ' 

What  occurred  to  Apollo,  with  regard  to  the  Cyclops? 

What  is  said  of  the  music  of  his  harp  ? 

How  did  he  kill  Hyacinthus,  and  what  was  the  effect  of  it? 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Ovid. 

What  is  the  stoiy  of  Cyparissus  .'' 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Ovid. 

What  is  related  of  Daphne  .'  * 

What  is  related  of  Bolina  ? 

What  happened  to  Leucothoe  ?  ^ 

What  became  of  Marsyas  ? 

What  is  the  story  respecting  Midas  ? 

SEC.  3.— NAMES  OF  APOLLO. 

As  the  Latins  call  him  Sol,  because  there  is  but 
one  sun  ;  so  some  think  the  Greeks  gave  him  the 
name  of  Apollo  for  the  same  reason.  Though 
others  think  that  he  is  called  iYpollo,  either  because 
he  drives  away  diseases,  or  because  he  darts  vigor- 
ously his  rays. 

He  was  called  Cynthius,  from  the  mountain  Cyn- 
thus,  in  the  island  of  Delos  ;  whence  Diana  also  was 
called  Cynthia, 


46 

And  Delius,  from  the  same  island,  because  he  was 
born  there  :  or,  as  some  say,  because  Apollo  (who 
is  the  sun,)  by  his  light,  makes  all  things  manifest 5 
for  which  reason  he  is  called  Phana^us. 

He  was  named  Delphinius,  because  he  killed  the 
serpent  Python,  called  Delphis  :  or  else,  because 
when  Castilius,  a  Cretan,  carried  men  to  the  planta- 
tions, Apollo  guided  him  in  the  shape  of  a  dolphin- 

His  title  Delphicus  comes  from  the  city  Delphi, 
in  Boeotia.  Here  Apollo  had  the  most  famous  tem- 
ple in  the  world,  in  which  he  uttered  the  oiacles  to 
those  who  consulted  him ;  which  he  first  received 
from  Jupiter.  They  say  that  this  famous  oracle 
became  dumb  at  the  birth  of  our  Saviour,  and  when 
Augustus,  who  was  a  great  votary  of  Apollo,  de- 
sired to  know  the  reason  of  its  silence,  the  oracle 
answered  him,  that  in  Judea  a  child  was  born,  who 
was  the  son  and  image  of  the  supreme  God,  and  had 
commanded  him  to  depart,  and  return  no  more  an- 
swers. 

Me  puer  Hebrseus,  divos  Dens  ipse  gubernans, 
Cederc  sede  jubet,  tristem(|ue  redire  sub  orcum  j 
Aris  ergo  dehinc  nostris  abscedito,  Caesar. 

Apollo  was  likewise  called  Didymoeus,  which 
word  in  Greek,  signifies  /m;/«5,  by  which  are  meant 
the  two  great  luminaries  of  heaven,  the  sun  and  the 
moon,  which  alternately  enlighten  the  world  by  day 
and  by  night. 

He  was  also  called  Nomius,  which  signifies  either 
a  shepherd,  because  he  fed  the  cattle  of  Admetus  ; 
or  because  the  sun,  as  it  were,  feeds  all  things  that 
the  earth  generates,  by  his  heat  and  influence.  Or 
perhaps  tliis  title  may  signify  lawgiver ;  and  was 
given  him,  because  he  made  very  severe  laws,  when 
he  was  king  of  Arcadia. 

He  was  styled  Pnean,  either  from  allaying  sorrows, 
or  from  his  exact  skill  in  striking ;  wherefore  he  is 


47 

armed  with  arrows.  And  we  know  that  the  sua 
strikes  us,  and  often  hurts  us  with  his  rays,  as  with 
so  many  darts. 

He  is  accordingly  referred  to  in  this  character  by 
Homer : 

Bent  was  his  bow,  the  Girecian' hearts  to  wound, 
Fierce  as  he  mov'd  his  silver  shafts  resound. 
Breathing  revenue,  a  sudden  night  he  spreadj 
And  gloomy  darkness  roU'd  around  his  head. 
;•  The  fleet  in  view,  he  twang'd  his  deadly  bow, 

And  hissing  fly  the  feathered  fates  below. 
On  mules  and  dogs  th'  infection  first  began  j 
And  last  the  vengeful  arrows  fix'd  on  man. — Iliad. 

By  this  name  Paean,  his  mother  Latona,  and  the 
spectators  of  the  combat,  encouraged  Apollo,  when 
he  fought  with  the  serpent  Python,  crying  frequently, 
"  Strike  him,  P(ean,  with  thy  darts."  By  the  same 
name  the  diseased  invoke  his  aid,  crying,  "  Heal  us, 
Psean."  And  hence  the  custom  came,  that  not  only 
all  hymns  in  the  praise  of  Apollo  were  called  Pceanes, 
but  also,  in  all  soiig:s  of  triumph  in  the  celebration 
of  all  victories,  n^  cried  out,  "  lo  Paean."  After 
tliis  manner  the  ai.  and  wanton  lover  in  Ovid  acts 
his  triumph  too  : 

"  Dicite  lo  Pa?an,  et  lo,  bis  discite,  Paean  ! 
Decidit  in  casses  praeda  petita  meos."     ^rt.  Am.  ^. 

Sing  lo  Psean  twice,  twice  lo  say; 

My  toils  are  pitch'd,  and  I  have  caught  my  prey. 

He  was  called  Phoebus,  from  the  great  swiftness  of 
his  motion. 

He  was  named  Pythius,  not  only  from  the  serpent 
Python,  which  he  killed,  but  likewise  from  asking 
and  consulting ;  for  none  among  the  gods  was  more 
consulted,  or  delivered  more  responses,  or  spake 
more  oracles  than  he  ;  especially  in  the  temple  which 
he  had  at  Delphi,  to  which  all  sorts  of  nations  resort- 
ed, so  that  it  was  called  "  the  oracle  of  all  the  earth." 
The  oracles  were  first  given  out  by  a  3'omig  virgin ; 
afterwards  it  was  determined  that   an  old  woman 


48 

should  give  the  answers,  in  the  dress  of  a  young 
maid,  who  was  therefore  called  Pythia,  from  Py- 
thms,  one  of  Apollo's  names,  and  sometimes  Phoe- 
bas,  from  Pho^hus,  another  of  them.  But  as  to  the 
manner  hy  which  the  woman  imderstood  the  god's 
mind,  men  difler. 

There  are  also  different  opinions  respecting  the 
tripos  on  which  the  oracle  sat.  Some  say  tliat  it 
was  a  table  with  three  feet ;  on  which  she  placed 
herself  when  she  designed  to  give  forth  oracles. 
But  others  say,  that  it  was  a  vessel,  in  which  she 
was  plunged  before  she  prophesied ;  or  rather,  that 
it  was  a  golden  vessel,  furnished  with  ears,  and  sup- 
ported by  three  feet,  whence  it  was  called  tripos  ; 
and  on  this  the  lady  sat  down.  It  happened  that 
this  tripos  was  lost  in  the  sea,  and  afterwards  taken 
up  in  the  nets  of  fishermen,  who  contended  among 
themselves  which  should  have  it :  the  Pythian 
priestess  being  asked,  gave  answer  that  it  ought  to 
be  sent  to  the  wisest  man  of  all  Greece.  Where- 
upon it  was  carried  to  Thales  of  Miletus ;  who  sent 
it  to  Bias,  as  to  a  wiser  person ;  Bias  referred  it  to 
another,  and  that  other  referred  it  to  a  fourth,  till, 
after  it  had  been  sent  backward  and  forward  to  all 
the  wise  men,  it  retured  again  to  Thales,  who  dedi- 
cated it  to  Apollo,  at  Delphi. 

The  seven  wise  men  of  Greece  were,  "  Thales  of 
Miletus,^^  "  Solon  of  Athens"  "  Chilon  of  Lacedce- 
mon,"  "  Fittacus  of  Mytilene^"  "  Bias  of  Priene," 
"  Cleohulus  of  Lindi"  and  "  Periander  of  Co- 
rinth.''^ 1  will  add  some  remarkable  things  con- 
cerning them  : 

Thales  was  reckoned  among  the  wise  men,  be- 
cause he  was  believed  to  be  the  first  that  brought 
geometry  into  Greece.  He  first  observed  the  courses 
of  the  times,  the  motion  of  the  winds,  the  nature  of 
thunder,  and  the  motions  of  the  smi  and  the  stars. 
Being  asked  what  he  thought  the  most  difficult  thing 


45 

m  the  world,  he  answered,  "  To  know  one's  self.' 
This  perhaps  was  the  occasion  of  the  advice  written 
on  the  front  of  Apollo's  temple,  to  those  that  were 
about  to  enter,  "  Know  thyself."     Tviodi  tsxvtok 

When  Solon  visited  Croesus,  king  of  Lydia, 
the  king  showed  his  vast  treasures  to  him,  and  ask- 
ed him  wiiether  he  knew  a  man  happier  than  he  : 
"  Yes,"  says  Solon,  "  I  know  Tellus,  a  very  poor, 
but  a  very  virtuous  man,  at  Athens,  who  lives 
in  a  little  tenement,  and  he  is  more  happy  than 
your  majesty  :  for  neither  can  those  things  make  us 
happy,  which  are  subject  to  the  changes  of  the  times; 
nor  is  any  one  to  be  thought  truly  happy  till  he 
dies."  It  is  said,  when  king  Croesus  was  afterward 
taken  prisoner  by  Cyrus,  and  laid  upon  the  pile  to 
be  burnt,  he  remembered  this  saying  of  Solon,  and 
often  repeated  his  name ;  so  that  Cyrus  asked  why 
he  cried  out  Solon,  and  who  the  god  was  whose  as- 
sistance he  begged.  Croesus  said,  "  I  now  find  by 
experience  that  to  be  true,  which  he  told  me  j"  and 
he  then  related  the  story.  Cyrus,  on  hearing  i^ 
was  so  touched  with  the  vicissitude  of  human  affairs, 
that  he  preserved  Croesus  from  the  fire,  and  ever  af- 
ter had  him  in  great  honour. 

Chilo  had  this  saying  continually  in  his  mouth: 
*'  JVe  quid  nimium  cupias,"  "  Desire  nothing  too 
much."  Yet  when  his  son  had  got  the  victory 
at  the  Olympic  games,  the  good  man  died  with  joy, 
and  all  Greece  honoured  his  funeral. 

Bias,  a  man  no  less  famous  for  learning  than  no* 
bility,  preserved  his  citizens  a  long  time.  And  when 
at  last,  says  Cicero,  his  country  Priene  was  taken, 
and  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants,  in  their  escape,  car* 
ried  away  with  them  as  much  of  their  goods  as  they 
could ;  one  advised  him  to  do  the  same,  but  he  made 
answer.  "  Ego  vero  facio,  nam  omnia  mea  mecum 
portoJ^  "  It  is  what  I  do  ah  eady ;  for  all  thingf 
that  are  mme  I  carry  about  me."  He  often  ssdd» 
5 


50 

"  Amicos  Ita  aniare  opertere,  ut  aliquando  essent 
osuri,  "  That  friends  should  reniembei  so  to  love 
one  another,  as  persons  who  sometimes  hate  one 
another."  A  sentiment  very  unworthy  of  a  wise 
and  good  man. 

Of  the  rest,  nothing  extraordinary  is  reported. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

What  is  the  origin  of  the  name  Apollo  ? 

Why  was  he  called  Cynthius,  Delius,  and  Delphinius? 

From  what  did  he  derive  his  title  Delphicus  ? 

When  did  the  oracle  become  dumb  ? 

Why  was  he  called  Didymeeus  and  Nomius  ? 

Why  was  he  styled  Paean  ? 

On  what  account  was  he  named  Phoebus  and  Pythius? 

What  is  said  of  the  tripos  ? 

Who  were  the  seven  wise  men  of  Greece  ? 

On  what  account  w  as  Thales  celebrated  ? 

For  what  is  Solon  celebrated  ? 

What  was  the  famous  saying  of  Chllo  ? 

Why  is  Bias  reckoned  among  the  seven  wise  men  ? 

SEC.  4.— THE  SIGNIFICATION  OF   THE   FABLE   APOL- 

LO  MEANS  THE  SUN. 

Every  one  agrees,  that  by  Apollo  the  Sun  is  to  be 
understood  ;  for  the  four  chief  properties  ascribed  to 
Apollo,  were  the  arts  of  prophesying,  of  healing,  of 
darting,  and  of  music  ;  of  all  which  we  may  find,  iu 
the  sun,  a  lively  representation  and  image. 

It  may  be  observed  that  Apollo's  skill  in  music 
seems  to  agree  with  the  nature  of  the  sun,  which, 
being  placed  in  the  midst  of  the  planets,  makes  \v\x\i 
tliem  a  kind  of  harmony,  and  as  it  were,  a  concert : 
and  because  the  sun  is  thus  placed  the  middlemost 
of  the  seven  planets,  the  poets  assert,  that  the  instru- 
ment which  Apollo  plays  on,  is  a  harp  with  seven 
sdrings. 

Besides,  from  the  things  sacrificed  to  Apollo,  it 
appears  that  he  was  the  Sun :  the  first  of  these  was 
the  olive,  the  fruit  of  which  cannot  be  nourished  in 
places  distant  from  it.     2.  The  laurel,  a  tree  always 


51 

flourishing,  never  old,  and  conducing  to  divination  ; 
and  therefore  the  poets  are  crowned  with  laurel.  3. 
Among  animals,  swans  were  offered  to  him  ;  because, 
as  was  observed  before,  thc}^  have  from  Apollo,  a 
faculty  of  divination  ;  for  they,  foreseeing  the  hap- 
piness in  death,  die  singing  and  pleased.  4.  Grif- 
fins also,  and  crows,  were  sacred  to  him  for  the  same 
reason  ;  and  the  hawk,  which  has  eyes  as  bright  and 
piercing  as  the  sun ;  the  cock,  which  foretells  hii^ 
rising,  and  the  grasshopper,  a  singing  creature : 
hence  it  was  a  custom  among  the  Athenians,  to  fast- 
en golden  grasshoppers  to  their  hair,  in  honour  of 
Apollo. 

And  especially,  if  we  derive  the  name  of  Lato- 
na,  the  mother  of  Apollo  and  Diana,  from  the 
Greek  a«v^<«v6>  [lanthano,  to  lie  hid^  it  will  signify, 
that  before  the  birth  of  Apollo  and  Diana,  that  is, 
before  the  production  of  the  sun  and  moon,  all  things 
lay  involved  in  darkness  ;  from  which  these  two  glo- 
rious luminaries  afterward  proceeded,  as  out  of  the 
womb  of  a  mother. 

But  notwithstanding  all  this,  several  poetical  fa- 
bles have  relation  only  to  the  sun,  and  not  to  Apollo. 
And  of  those  therefore  it  is  necessary  to  treat  apart, 

qUESTIOA'S  FOR  EXAMIKATIOK. 

What  were  the  chief  properties  of  Apollo  ? 

Why  does  Apollo's  skill  in  music  agree  with  the  nature  of  the 
sun  ? 

How  is  it  inferred  that  he  was  the  sun  from  the  things  saci> 
ficed  to  him  ? 

What  is  ittfsrred  from  the  name  Latona,  mother  ot  Apollo 
and  Diana  ? 


52 


CHAPTER  III. 

SEC.  1.— THE  SUN.     HIS   GENEALOGY,   NAMES,  AND 
ACTIONS. 

This  glorious  sun,  which  illustrates  all  things  with 
his  light,  is  called  Sol,  as  Cicero  says,  either  be- 
cause he  is  the  only  star  that  is  of  that  apparent  mag- 
nitude ;  or  because,  when  he  rises,  he  puts  out  all 
the  other  stars,  and  only  appears  himself.  Vel  quia 
Solus  ex  omnibus  sideribus  tantus  est ;  vel  quia  cum 
exortus  est,  obscuratis  omnibus.  Solus  appareat. 
Cic.  de  Nat.  Deor.  2.  3.  Although  the  poets  have 
said,  that  there  were  five  Sols  ;  yet,  whatever  they 
delivered  concerning  each  of  them  severally,  they 
commonly  apply  to  one,  who  was  the  son  of  Hype- 
rion, and  nephew  to  jEther,  begotten  of  an  unknown 
inother. 

The  Persians  call  the  sun  Mithra,  accounting  him 
the  greatest  of  their  gods,  and  worship  him  in  a  cave. 
His  statue  has  the  head  of  a  lion,  on  which  a  turban 
called  tiara,  is  placed ;  it  is  clothed  with  Persian  at- 
tire, and  holds  with  both  hands  a  mad  bull  by  the 
horns.  Those  that  desired  to  become  his  priests, 
and  understand  his  mysteries,  did  first  undergo  a 
great  many  hardships  before  they  could  attain  to  the 
honour  of  that  employment.  It  was  not  lawful  for 
the  kings  of  Persia  to  drink  immoderately,  but  upon 
that  day  in  which  the  sacrifices  were  ofiered  to 
]^Iithra. 

The  Egyptians  called  the  sun  Horus  ;  whence 
those  parts  into  which  the  sun  divides  the  day,  are 
called  horcd,  hours.  They  represented  his  power  by 
a  sceptre,  on  the  top  of  which  an  eye  was  placed ; 
by  which  they  signified  that  the  sun  sees  every  thing, 
aud  that  all  things  are  seen  by  his  means. 


53 

These  horct  were  thought  to  be  the  daughters  ok 
Sol  and  Chronis,  who  early  m  the  morning  prepare 
the  chariot  and  the  horses  for  their  father,  and  open 
the  gates  of  the  day. 

qUESTIO.YS  FOR  EXAMIKATIOX. 

What  is  Cicero's  opinion  with  regard  to  Sol,  and  to  who» 
does  the  name  apply  ? 

What  is  said  of  the  Persians  with  regard  to  the  sun  ? 

What  was  necessary  to  be  done  by  those  who  would  become 
the  priests  of  the  sun  ? 

What  name  did  the  Egyptians  give  to  the  sun,  and  how  did 
they  represent  his  power  ? 

Who  were  the  "  horae,"  and  what  was  their  business  ? 

SEC.  2.— OF  THE  SEVEN  WONDERS  OF  THE  WORLD. 

The  seven  wonders  of  the  world  : 

1.  The  Colossus  at  Rhodes,  a  statue  of  the  sun„ 
seventy  cubits  high,  placed  across  the  mouth  of  the 
harbour ;  a  man  could  not  grasp  his  thumb  with 
both  his  arms.  Its  legs  were  stretched  out  to  such 
a  distance,  that  a  large  ship  under  sail  might  easily 
pass  into  the  port  between  them.  It  was  twelve 
years  making,  and  cost  three  hundred  ^talents.  It 
stood  fifty  years,  and  at  last  was  thrown  down  by 
an  earthquake.  And  from  this  Colossus  the  people 
of  Rhodes  were  named  Colossenses;  and  now  every 
statue  of  an  unusual  magnitude  is  called  Colossus. 

2.  The  temple  of  Diana,  at  Ephesus,  a  work  of 
the  greatest  magnificence  ;  which  the  ancients  great- 
ly admired.  fTwo  hundred  and  twenty  years  were 
spent  in  finishing  it,  though  all  Asia  was  employed* 
It  was  supported  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
pillars  sixty  feet  high,  each  of  which  was  raised  by 
as  many  kings.  Of  these  pillars  thirty-seven  were 
engraven.  The  image  of  the  goddess  was  made  of 
ebony,  as  we  learn  from  history. 

3.  The  Mausoleum,   or  sepulchre  of  Mausolus^ 

»  A  Rhodian  talent  is  worth  322/.  18*.  4d.  English. 
t  Plin.  1.  7.  c.  38.  h  1.  16.  c.  4U. 
6* 


54 

king  ofCarra,  *biiilt  by  his  queen  Artemisia,  of  the 
purest  marble ;  and  yet  the  workmanship  of  it  was 
much  more  valuable  than  the  marble.  It  was  from 
north  to  south  sixty-three  feet  long,  almost  four 
hundred  and  eleven  feet  in  compass,  and  twenty-five 
cubits  (that  is,  about  thirty-five  feet)  high,  surround- 
ed with  thirty-six  columns,  which  were  beautified  in 
a  wonderful  manner.  From  this  Mausoleum  all  other 
sumptuous  sepulchres  are  called  by  the  same  name. 

4.  A  statue  of  Jupiter,  in  the  temple  of  the  city  of 
f  Olympia,  carved  with  the  greatest  art  by  Phidias, 
out  of  ivory,  and  made  of  a  prodigious  size. 

5.  The  walls  of  Babylon  (the  metropolis  of  Chal- 
dea,)  Jbuilt  by  queen  Semiramis ;  their  circum- 
ference was  sixty  miles,  and  their  breadth  fifty  feet, 
so  that  six  chariots  might  conveniently  pass  upon 
them  in  a  row. 

6.  The  llpyramids  of  Egypt;  three  of  which,  re- 
markable for  their  height,  still  remain.  The  first 
has  a  square  basis,  and  is  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  feet  long,  and  one  thousand  feet  high  ;  it  is 
made  of  great  stones,  the  least  of  which  is  thirty  feet 
thick  ;  and  three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  men 
were  employed  in  building  it,  for  the  space  of  twen- 
ty years.  The  other  two,  which  are  somewhat 
smaller,  attract  the  admiration  of  all  spectators.  In 
these  pyramids,  it  is  reported,  the  bodies  of  the 
kings  of  Egypt  lie  interred. 

7.  The  palace  of  §Cyrus,  king  of  the  Medes, 
made  by  Menon,  with  no  less  prodigaUty  than  art  j 
for  he  cemented  the  stones  with  gold. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMmATIOjY. 

What  is  the  first  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world  ;  how  Is 
it  described,  and  what  name  did  the  inhabitants  of  Rhodes  de- 
rive from  it. 

Describe  the  second  of  the  wonders  of  the  world  ? 

•  Plin.  1.  36.  c.  5.        f  Phil.  1.  36.  c.  3.        t  Plin.  1.  6.  c.  26. 
I  Plin  I.  36.  c.  13,  Belo.  1.  2.  c.  32     ^Calepin.  V.MiracuIum. 


65 

'Which  was  the  third,  and  what  technical  term  owes  its  orisia 
to  it  ? 

Which  was  the  fourth  ? 

Describe  the  fifth  ? 

Give  some  account  of  the  sixth  ? 

Which  was  the  seventh  ?  | 

SEC.  3.— THE  CHILDREN  OF  THE  SUN 

The  most  celebrated  of  Sol's  children  was  Phaeton, 
who  gave  the  poets  an  excellent  opportunity  of  show- 
ing their  ingenuity  by  the  following  action.  Epa- 
phus,  one  of  tlie  sons  of  Jupiter,  quarrelled  with 
i*haeton,  and  said  that  though  he  called  himself  the 
son  of  Apollo,  he  was  not.  This  slander  so  pro- 
voked Pheeton,  that  by  Clymene,  his  mother's  ad- 
vice, he  went  to  the  royal  palace  of  the  Sun,  to 
bring  thence  some  indubitable  marks  of  his  nativity. 
The  sun  received  him  kindly,  and  owned  him  as  his 
son ;  and,  to  take  away  all  occasion  of  doubting 
hereafter,  he  gave  him  liberty  to  ask  any  thing, 
swearing  by  the  Stygian  lake,  an  oath  which  none  of 
the  gods  dare  violate,  that  he  would  not  deny  him. 
Phseton  then  desired  leave  to  govern  his  father's  cha- 
riot for  one  day.  This  was  the  occasion  of  great 
grief  to  his  father,  who  endeavoured  to  persuade  him 
not  to  persist  in  his  project,  which  no  mortal  was 
capable  of  executing.  Phceton,  however,  pressed 
him  to  keep  his  promise,  and  perform  what  he  had 
sworn  by  the  river  Styx.  The  father  was  forced 
to  comply  with  his  son's  rashness  :  he  directed  him 
how  to  guide  the  horses,  and  especially  advised  him 
to  observe  the  middle  path.  Phaeton  was  transport- 
ed with  joy,  mounted  his  chariot,  and  taking  the 
reins,  began  to  drive  the  horses  ;  which,  finding  him 
unable  to  govern  them,  ran  away,  and  set  on  fire 
both  the  heaven  and  the  earth.  Jupiter,  to  put  an 
end  to  the  conflagration,  struck  him  out  of  the  chariot 
with  thunder,  and  cast  him  headlong  into  the  river 
Po.     His  sisters,  Lampethusa,  Lampetia,  and  Pha- 


56 

ethusa,  lamenting  his  death,  incessantly,  upon  the 
banks  of  that  river,  were  turned,  by  the  pity  of  the 
gods,  into  poplars,  from  that  time  weeping  amber  in- 
stead of  tears.  This  forms  a  subject  of  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  passages  in  Ovid. — Met.  2. 

Circe,  the  most  skilful  of  all  sorceresses,  poisoned 
her  husband,  a  king  of  the  Sarmatians ;  for  which 
she  was  banished  by  her  subjects,  and  flying  into 
Italy,  fixed  her  seat  on  the  promontory  Circseum, 
where  she  fell  in  love  with  Glaucus,  a  sea  god,  who 
at  the  same  time  loved  Scylla  ;  Circe  turned  her  into 
a  sea  monster,  by  poisoning  the  water  in  which  she 
used  to  wash.  She  entertained  Ulysses,  who  was 
driven  hither  by  the  violence  of  storms,  with  great 
civility;  and  restored  his  companions,  whom,  ac- 
cording to  her  usual  custom,  she  had  changed  into 
hogs,  bears,  wolves,  and  the  like  beasts,  unto  their 
former  shapes. 

Pasiphge,  the  wife  of  Minos,  king  of  Crete,  loved 
an  officer  named  Taurus,  hence  the  fable  of  her  at- 
tachment to  a  hull,  and  of  her  giving  birth  to  a  mon- 
ster, half  man  and  half  beast,  called  Mino-Taurus, 
or,  Minotaur, 

The  Minotaur  was  shut  up  in  a  labyrinth,  which 
Daedalus  made  by  the  order  of  king  Minos.  This 
labyrinth  was  a  place  diversified  with  very  many 
windings  and  turnings,  and  cross  paths,  rumiing  in- 
to one  another  ; — see  Theseus.  Daedalus  was  an 
excellent  artificer  of  Athens,  and,  as  it  is  said,  in- 
vented the  ax,  the  saw,  the  plummet,  the  augur, 
and  glue ;  he  also  first  contrived  masts  and  yards 
for  ships ;  besides,  he  carved  statues  so  admirably  that 
they  not  only  seemed  alive,  but  could  never  stand  still 
in  one  place  ;  nay,  would  fly  away  unless  they  were 
chained.  This  Daedalus,  together  with  Icarus,  his 
son,  was  shut  up  by  Minos  in  the  labyrinth  which 
he  had  made,  because  he  had  assisted  Pasiphae  in 
her  intrigues,  ^d  finding  no  way  to  escape,  he  made 


67 

wings  for  himself  and  his  son,  with  wax  and  the 
feathers  of  birds  :  fastening  these  wings  to  their 
shoulders,  Daedalus  flew  out  of  Crete  into  Sicily, 
but  Icarus  in  his  flight,  neglecting  his  father's  advice, 
observed  not  his  due  course,  and  out  of  juvenile 
wantonness  flew  higher  than  he  ought ;  upon  which 
the  wax  was  melted  by  the  sun,  the  wings  broke  in 
pieces,  and  he  fell  into  the  sea,  which  is  since,  ac- 
cording to  Ovid,  named  the  Icarian  sea,  from  him. 

"Icarus  Icariis  nomina  fecit  aquis." — Trisi.  1. 
Icarian  seas  from  Icarius  were  called. 

To  these  children  of  the  sun,  we  may  add  his 
niece  and  his  nephew  Bybhs  and  Caunus.  Byblis 
was  in  love  with  Caunus,  and  followed  him  so  long 
to  no  purpose,  that  at  last,  being  quite  oppressed 
with  sorrow  and  labour,  she  sat  down  under  a  tree, 
and  shed  such  a  quantity  of  tears,  that  she  was  con- 
verted into  a  fountain. 

"  Sic  lachrymis  consumpta  suis  Phcebeia  Byblis 
Vertitur  in  fontem,  qui  nunc  quoque  vallibus  illis 
IVomen  habet  clomina?,  nigraque  sub  ilice  manat." 

Ov.  Met.  9. 

Thus  the  Phcebian  Byblis,  spent  in  tears, 
Becomes  a  livi.ig  fountain,  which  yet  bears 
Her  name,  and,  under  a  black  holm  that  grows 
In  those  rank  valleys,  plentifully  flows. 

qUESTW.XS  FOR  EXAMIKJITIOK. 

What  is  said  of  PhaKon,  one  of  the  children  of  the  sun  ? 

What  happened  to  Phajton  ? 

Who  were  his  sisters,  and  what  happened  to  them  .•' 

Who  was  Circe,  and  what  is  related  of  her  ? 

Who  was  Pasip'^ae,  and  how  is  the  fable  of  the  Monitaur  ex- 
plained ? 

Who  was  Daedalus,  and  what  circumstances  are  related  of 
him  ? 

Who  were  the  niece  and  nephew  of  Sol  ? 


58 


CHAPTER  IV. 


SEC.  1— MERCURY.    HIS  IMAGE,  BIRTH,  QUALITIES 
AND  OFFICES. 

Mercury  is  represented  with  a  cheerful  counte- 
nance and  hvely  eyes  ;  having  wings  fixed  to  his  hat 
and  his  shoes,  and  a  rod  in  his  hand,  which  is  wing- 
td,  and  bound  about  by  two  serpents.  His  face  is 
^'iartly  black  and  dark,  and  partly  clear  and  bright , 
because  sometimes  he  converses  with  the  celestial, 
and  sometimes  with  the  infernal  gods.  He  wears 
winged  shoes,  which  are  called  Talaria,  and  wings 
are  also  fastened  to  his  hat,  which  is  called  Petasus, 
because,  since  he  is  the  messenger  of  the  gods,  he 
ought  not  only  to  run,  but  to  ^y. 

His  wings  are  emblematical  of  the  wings  which 
language  gives  to  the  thoughts  of  men.  His  cha- 
racter, as  tlie  swift  messenger  of  the  gods,  is  thus 
referred  to  by  Homer  : — 

The  god  who  mounts  the  winged  winds 

Fast  to  his  feet  the  golden  pinions  binds. 

That  high  through  fields  of  air  his  flight  sustain, 

O'er  t'le  wide  earth,  and  o'er  the  boundless  main  , 

He  grasps  the  wand  that  causes  sleep  to  fly, 

Or  in  soft  slumbers  seals  the  wakeful  eye  ; 

Then  shoots  from  heav'n  to  high  Pieria's  steep, 

And  stoops  incumbent  on  the  rolling  deep. — Odyssey. 

His  parents  were  Jupiter,  and  Maia,  the  daughtei 
of  Atlas  ;  and  for  that  reason,  they  used  to  offer  sa- 
crifices to  him  in  the  month  of  May.  They  say  that 
Juno  was  his  nurse,  and  once  when  he  took  his  milk 
too  greedily,  it  ran  out  of  his  moudi  upon  the  hea- 
vens, and  made  that  white  stream  which  they  call 
''  The  Milky-way." 

He  had  many  offices.  1.  The  first  and  principal 
was  to  carry  the  commands  of  Jupiter  5  whence  he 


((UK-I7EESITYJ 


yjfgjgWTijyy 


69 

is  commonly  called  "  The  messenger  of  the  gods." 
2.  He  swept  the  room  where  the  gods  supped,  and 
made  the  beds ;  and  underwent  many  other  the  like 
servile  employments  ;  hence  he  was  styled  Camillus 
or  Casmillus,  that  is,  an  inferior  servant  of  gods ; 
for  anciently  all  boys  and  girls  under  age  were  call- 
ed Camilli  and  Camillae  :  and  the  same  name  was 
afterward  given  to  the  young  men  and  maids,  who 
attended  the  priests  at  their  sacrifices  :  though  the 
peopleofBcEOtia,  instead  of  Camillus,  sayCadmillus; 
perhaps  from  the  Arabic  word  chadam,  to  serve  ;  or 
from  the  Phoenician  word  chadmel,  god's  servant  or 
minister  sacer.  3s  He  attended  upon  dying  persons 
to  unloose  their  souls  from  the  chains  of  the  body, 
and  carry  them  to  hell :  he  also  revived,  and  placed 
in  new  bodies  those  souls  which  had  completed  their 
full  time  in  the  Elysian  fields.  Almost  all  which 
things  Virgil  comprises  in  seven  verses. 

*'  Dixerat.     Ille  patris  magni  parere  parabat 

Imperio,  et  primum  pedibus  talaria  nectit 

Aurea,  quae  sublimem  alis  sive  aequora  supra, 

Seu  terrara,  rapido  pariter  cum  flamine  portant. 

Turn  virgam  capit ;  hac  animas  ille  evocat  Oreo 

Pallentes,  alias  sub  tristia  Tartara  mittit ; 

Dat  soranos,  adimitque,  et  lumina  morte  resignat."  .^n.4 

Hermes  obeys  ;  with  golden  pinions  binds 
His  flying  feet,  and  mounts  the  western  winds  • 
And,  whether  o'er  the  seas  or  earth  he  flies, 
With  rapid  force  they  bear  him  down  the  skies. 
But  first  he  grasps,  within  his  awful  hand, 
The  mark  of  sov'reign  pow'r,  his  magic  wand : 
With  this  he  draws  the  souls  from  hollow  graves  j 
With  this  he  drives  them  down  the  Stygian  waves ; 
With  this  he  seals  in  sleep  the  wakeful  sight, 
And  eyes,  though  clos'd  in  death,  restores  to  light. 

His  remarkable  qualities  were  these  :  1 .  He  was 
the  inventor  of  letters,  and  excelled  in  eloquence,  so 
that  the  Greeks  called  him  Hermes,  from  his  *skill 
in  interpreting  or  explaining ;  and,  therefore,  he  is 

•  'Awo  ra  Ipu-nni*"  i.  e.  ab  interpretando. 


60 

accounted  the  god  of  the  rhetoricians  and  orators. 

2.  He  is  reported  to  have  been  the  inventor  of 
contracts,  weights,  and  measures ;  to  have  first  taught 
the  arts  of  buying,  selling,  and  trafficking ;  and  to 
have  received  the  name  of  Mercury*^  from  his  under- 
standing of  merchandise.  Hence  he  is  accounted  the 
god  of  the  merchants^  and  the  god  ofgain  ;  so  that  all 
unexpected  gain  and  treasure,  which  comes  of  a  sud- 
den, is  from  liim  called  ip,u.e7ov  or  spf^cctov. 

3.  In  the  ait  of  thieving  he  certainly  excelled  all 
the  sharpers  that  ever  were,  or  will  fbe ;  and  is  the 
prince  and  god  of  thieves.  The  very  day  on  which 
he  was  born,  he  stole  away  some  cattle  from  king 
Admetus'  herd,  although  Apollo  was  keeper  of  them ; 
who  complained  much  of  the  theft,  and  bent  his  bow 
against  him  :  but,  in  the  mean  time.  Mercury  stole 
even  his  arrows  from  him.  While  he  was  yet  an 
infant,  and  entertained  by  Vulcan,  he  stole  his  tools 
from  him.  He  took  away  by  stealth  Venus'  girdle, 
while  she  embraced  him  ;  and  Jupiter's  sceptre  :  he 
designed  to  steal  the  thunder  too,  but  he  was  afraid 
lest  it  should  burn  him. 

4.  He  was  mightily  skilful  in  making  peace  ;  and 
for  that  reason  was  sometimes  painted  with  chains  of 
gold  flowing  from  his  mouth,  with  which  he  linked 
together  the  minds  of  those  that  heard  him.  And  he 
not  only  pacified  mortal  men,  but  also  the  immortal 
gods  of  heaven  and  hell ;  for  whenever  they  quarrel- 
led among  themselves,  he  composed  their  differences. 

*'  Pacis  et  armorum,  superis  imisque  Deorum, 
Arbiter,  alato  qui  pede  carpit  iter." — Ovid  Fast.  S. 

Thee,  wing-foot,  all  the  gods,  both  high  and  low, 
The  arbiter  of  war  and  peace  allow. 

This  pacificatory  faculty  of  his  is  signified  by  th« 
rod  that  he  holds  in  his  hand,  which  Apollo  hereto- 

•  A  mercibus,  vel  a  mercium  cura,  Philostrat,  in  Soph.  S. 
t  Lucian.  Diall.  ApoU.  et  Vulc 


61 

fore  gave  Ii:m,  because  he  liad  given  Apollo  a  harp» 
This  rod  had  a  wonderlul  faculty  of  deciding  all 
controversies.  The  virtue  was  first  discovered  by 
Mercury,  wiio  seeing  two  serpe/its  fighting,  as  he 
travelled,  he  put  his  rod  between  them,  and  recon- 
ciled tlieni  presently  ;  for  they  mutually  embraced 
each  other;  and  stuck  to  the  rod,  which  is  called 
Caduceus.  *Hence  all  ambassadors  sent  to  make 
peace  are  called  Caduceatores  :  for,  as  wars  were 
denounced  by  -fFeciales,  so  they  were  ended  by 
Caduceatores. 

qUESTIOXS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

How  is  Mercury  represented  ? 

VThy  does  lie  wear  wings,  and  what  are  they  called.' 

Who  \Vere  his  parents  ? 

What  is  said  to  be  the  origin  of  the  Milky-way  ? 

W^hat  are  Mercury's  principal  offices  ? 

What  was  the  first  remarkable  quality  belonging  to  Mercury/ 

What  was  the  second  ? 

What  was  tlie  third  ? 

What  was  the  fourth  ? 

What  emblem  of  peace  does  he  carry  ■* 

How  was  this  virtue  discovered  ? 

What  was  the  rod  called,  and  what  name  is  derived  from  it? 

SEC.  2.— ACTIONS  OF  MERCURY. 

Of  which  tlie  following  are  the  most  remarkable 
Hermaplu'oditus,  the  son  of  Mercury  and  W^nus, 
was  a  celebrated  hunter.  In  one  of  his  excursions 
through  the  forests,  he  was  observed  by  a  wood 
nymph  called  Salmacis,  who,  struck  with  his  manly 
form  and  noble  visage,  both  new  to  her,  anxiously 
followed  him  wherever  he  went.  But  Hermaphro- 
dims  inured  to  solitude  by  the  nature  of  his  pursuits, 
and  unaccustomed  to  the  soft  attractions  of  female 
society,  as  anxiously  avoided  her,  until  she  had  re- 
course to  stratagem,  and  to  hide  in  ambusli  to  be- 
hold him.  At  length,  however,  they  met  at  a  favourite 
foimtain  in  the  midst  of  the  foi^^st,  where  he  usually 
•  Horn,  in  Hvm.      f  Lexic.  Lat.  in  hoc  Vcrbo. 

'6 


62 

came  to  bathe  during  the  heat  of  the  day.  Here  the 
infatuated  nymph  imprudently  disclosed  her  senti- 
ments. Such  I'rankness  merited  a  generous  return, 
but  the  ungrateful  and  sturdy  huntsman,  unmoved 
by  her  advances,  rejected  her  widi  disgust,  upon 
which  the  indignant  Salmacis  prayed  the  gods  to 
avenge  the  insult  by  wedding  him  tor  ever  to  a  fe- 
male form.  Her  prayer  was  granted,  and  the 
wretched  Hermaphroditus,  equally  amazed  and 
shocked  at  the  change,  prayed  then  in  turn,  to  alle- 
viate the  poignancy  of  his  misfortue  by  sending  him 
companions  of  similar  form.  The  gods  always  mer- 
ciful, listened  to  his  entreaties,  and  decreed  that 
whoever,  thereafter,  should  bathe  in  that  fountain, 
should  resemble  Hermaphroditus,  and  partake  alike 
the  form  and  qualities  of  either  sex. 

A  herdsmen,  whose  name  was  Battus,  saw  Mer- 
cury stealing  Admetus'  cows  from  Apollo  their  keep- 
er. When  Mercury  perceived  that  his  theft  was 
discovered,  he  went  to  Battus,  and  desired  that  he 
would  say  nothing,  and  gave  him  a  delicate  cow^ 
Battus  promised  him  secrecy.  Mercury,  to  try  his 
fidelity,  came  in  another  shape  to  him,  and  asked 
him  about  the  cows  ;  whether  he  saw  them,  or  knew 
the  place  where  the  thief  carried  tliem.  Battus  de- 
nied it ;  but  Mercury  pressed  him  hard,  and  pro- 
mised that  he  would  give  him  both  a  bull  and  a  cow, 
if  he  would  discover  it.  With  this  promise  he  was 
overcome ;  upon  which  Mercury  was  enraged,  and 
laying  aside  his  disguise,  turned  him  into  a  stone 
called  Index.  This  story  Ovid  describes  in  very 
elegant  verse* 

The  ancients  used  to  set  up  statues  where  the 
roads  crossed  :  these  statues  they  called  Indices,  be- 
cause with  an  arm  or  finger  held  out  they  showed 
tlie  way  to  this  or  that  place.  The  Romans  placed 
some  in  pubhc  places  and  highways ;  as  t\u  Athe- 
nians did  at  tlieir  doors  to  drive  away  thieves ;  and 


63 

they  call  these  statues  Hermae,  from  Mercury,  whose 
Greek  name  was  Hermes :  concerning  which  Her- 
mcC  it  is  to  be  observed : 

1.  That  they  have  neither  hands  nor  feet ;  and 
hence  ]\Iercury  was  called  Cyllenius,  and  by  con- 
traction Cyllius,  which  words  are  derived  from 
a  Greek  word  signifying  a  man  without  hands  and 
feet ;  and  not  from  Cyllene,  a  mountain  in  Arcadia, 
on  which  he  was  educated. 

2.  A  purse  was  usually  hung  to  a  statue  of  Mer- 
cury, to  signify  that  he  was  the  god  of  gain  and  pro- 
fit, and  presided  over  merchandising  ;  in  which,  be- 
cause many  times  things  are  done  by  fraud  and 
treachery,  they  gave  him  the  name  of  Dolius. 

3.  The  Romans  used  to  join  the  statues  of  Mer- 
cury and  Minerva  together,  and  these  images  they 
called  Hermathena? ;  and  sacrificed  to  both  deities 
upon  the  same  altar.  Those  who  had  escaped  any 
great  danger,  always  oflered  sacrifices  to  Mercury  ; 
they  ofiered  up  a  calf,  and  milk,  and  honey,  and  es- 
pecially the  tongues  of  the  sacrifices,  which,  with  a 
great  deal  of  ceremony,  they  cast  into  the  fire,  and 
then  the  sacrifice  was  finished.  It  is  said  that  the 
Megarenses  first  used  this  ceremony. 

quESTTO.rs  for  examijvatjok. 

Wliat  is  related  of  Mercury  in  connexion  with  Venus  ? 

What  is  the  story  of  Battus  ? 

What  were  the  ancient  indices  ? 

Wliat  were  the  Hermai  ? 

Why  was  Mercury  called  Cyllenius  ^ 

Why  was  he  called  Dolius  ? 

What  were  the  Hermathenaj  ? 

What  were  the  sacrifices  offered  to  Mercury,  and  why/ 


04 


CHAPTER  V. 


SEC.  1.— BACCHUS      HIS  IMAGE  AND  BIRTH. 

Bacchus,  the  god  of  ivine,  and  the  captain  and 
emperor  of  drunkards,  is  represented  with  swoln 
cheeks,  red  face,  and  a  body  bloated  and  puffed  up. 
He  is  crowned  with  ivy  and  wine-leaves  ;  and  has 
in  his  hand  a  thyrsus,  instead  of  a  sceptre,  which  is 
a  javelin  with  an  iron  head,  encircled  by  ivy  or  vine- 
leaves.  He  is  carried  in  a  chariot,  which  is  some- 
times drawn  by  tigers  and  lions,  and  sometimes  by 
lynxes  and  panthers  :  and,  like  a  king,  he  has  his 
guards,  w  ho  are  a  drunken  band  of  satyrs,  demons, 
nymphs  that  preside  over  the  wine-presses,  foiries  of 
fountains,  and  priestesses.  Silenus  oftentimes  comes 
after  him,  sitting  on  an  ass  that  bends  under  his 
burden. 

He  is  sometimes  painted  an  old  man,  and  some- 
times a  smooth  and  beardless  boy  ;  as  Ovid  and  Ti- 
bullus  describe  him.     1  shall  give  you  the  reason  of 
these  things,  and   of  his  horns,  mentioned   a* 
Ovid: 

-"  Tibi  inconsumpta  juventa 


Tn  puer  tetenius,  tu  torinosissiaius  alto 
Coiispicei-is  ccelo,  tibi,  cum  sine  cornibus  adstas, 
Virgineuin  caput  est." 

. Still  dost  thou  eujoy 

Unwasted  youth  :     Eternally  a  boy 

■J'hou'rt  seen  in  heaven,  whom  all  perfections  grace 

And  when  uahonrd,  thou  hast  a  virgin's  face. 

According  to  the  poets,  the  birth  of  Bacchus  was 
both  wonderful  and  ridiculous. 

They  say,  that  when  Jupiter  was  in  love  with  Se- 
mele,  it  excited  Juno's  jealousy,  who  endeavoured  to 
destroy  her ;  and  in  the  shape  of  an  old  woman, 
visited  Semcle,  and  advised  her  to  oblige  him,  when 


f:  -• ., 


65 

he  came,  by  an  inviolable  oath,  to  grant  her  a  r^ 
quest :  then,  says  she  to  Semele,  ask  him  to  come  to 
you  as  he  is  wont  to  come  to  Juno  :  and  he  will 
come  clotiied  in  all  his  glory,  and  majesty,  and  ho- 
nour. Semele  was  greatly  pleased  with  this  advice  ; 
and  therefore,  when  Jupiter  visited  her  next,  she 
begged  a  ("avour  of  him,  but  did  not  expressly  name 
the  lavour.  Jupiter  bound  liimseH*  in  the  most  so- 
lemn oath  to  grant  her  request,  let  it  be  ^^llat  it 
would.  Semele,  little  foreseeing  what  she  desired 
would  prove  her  ruin,  made  the  rash  request.  What 
Jupiter  had  so  solemnly  sworn  to  perform,  he  could 
not  refuse  :  he  accordmgly  put  on  all  his  terrors,  ar- 
rayed himself  with  his  greatest  glory,  and  in  the  midst 
of  thunder  and  lightning  entered  Semele's  house. 
Her  mortal  body  could  not  stand  the  shock,  and 
she  perished  ;  for  the  thmider  struck  her  down  and 
stupified  her,  and  the  lightning  reduced  her  to  a^hes. 
So  fatal  are  the  rash  desires  of  the  ambitious  !  Bac- 
chus, her  son,  not  yet  born,  was  preserved,  taken 
from  his  mother,  and  sewed  into  Jupiter's  thigh, 
whence  in  fulness  of  time  he  was  born,  and  deliver- 
ed into  the  hands  of  Mercury  to  be  carried  into  Eu- 
bcea,  to  Macris,  the  daughter  of  Aristaeus,  who  ini- 
mediately  anointed  his  lips  with  honey,  and  brought 
him  up  with  great  care  in  a  cave,  to  which  lh(;re 
were  two  gates.      Ovid.  Met.  3. 

qUESTIO.rS  fob  EXJMIjY^TOLX. 

How  is  Bacchus  representftd  ? 

By  what  is  iiis  chariot  drawn? 

How  is  lie  painted  r 

Give  some  account  of  Bacchus' birth  ? 

What  u  as  the  co?:se(|!ietice  (  f  thai  reipiest  ? 

What  did  Macris  do  for  Bacchus  at  his  birth  f 

SEC.  3.-TIIE  NAMES  OF  BACCIIdS. 

Bacchus  was  so  called  from  a  Greek  word,  wliich 
iignifies   "  to  revel :"  and  for  the  same  reason,  tho 


66 

wild  women,  his  companions,  are  called  Thyades 
and  Mamades,  which  words  sic^nify  madness  and  fol- 
ly. They  were  also  called  jMimaUones,  that  is,  imi- 
tators or  mimics ;  because  they  imitated  all  Bac- 
chus' actions. 

Bilbrmis,  because  he  was  reckoned  both  a  young 
and  an  old  man  ;  with  a  beard,  and  without  a  beard  : 
or,  because  wine  (of  which  Bacchus  is  the  emblem) 
makes  people  sometimes  cheerful  and  pleasant, 
sometimes  peevish  and  morose. 

He  was  named  Brisaeus,  either  from  the  nymph 
his  nurse  ;  or  from  the  use  of  the  grapes  and  honey, 
which  he  invented,  for  b?'isa  signifies  a  bunch  of  press- 
ed grapes ;  or  else  from  the  promontory  Brisa,  hi 
the  island  of  Lesbos,  where  he  was  worshipped. 

Bromius,  from  the  crackling  of  fire,  and  noise  of 
thunder,  that  was  heard  when  his  mother  was  killed. 

Bimater,  because  he  had  two  mothers  :  the  first 
was  Semele,  and  the  other  the  thigh  of  Jupiter,  into 
which  he  was  received  after  he  was  saved  from  the 
fire. 

He  is  called  also  by  the  Greeks  Bu genes,  that  is, 
born  of  an  ox,  and  thence  Tauriformis,  or  Tauri- 
ceps  ;  and  he  is  supposed  to  have  horns,  because  he 
first  ploughed  with  oxen,  or  because  he  was  the  son 
of  Jupiter  Amnion,  who  had  the  head  of  a  ram. 

Dcemon  bonus ;  the  "  good  angel;"  and  in  feasts, 
after  the  victuals  were  taken  away,  the  last  glass  was 
drunk  round  to  his  honour. 

Dithyrambus,  which  signifies  either  that  he  was 
born  twice,  of  Semele  and  of  Jove ;  or  the  double 
gate  that  the  cave  had,  in  which  he  was  brought  up  . 
or  perhaps  it  means  that  drunkards  cannot  keep  se- 
crets ;  but  whatever  is  in  the  head  comes  in  the 
mouth,  and  bursts  forth,  as  fast  as  it  w^ould  out  of 
two  doors. 

Dionysius  or  Dionysus,  from  his  father  Jupiter, 
or  from  the  nymphs  called  Nysse,  by  whom  he  was 


67 

nursed,  as  tney  say,  or  from  a  Greek  word,  signify- 
ing "  to  prick,"  because  he  pricked  his  father's  side 
with  his  iioriis,  when  he  was  born  ;  or  from  Jupiter's 
lameness,  who  limped  when  Bacchus  was  in  his 
thigh  ;  or  from  an  island  among  the  Cyclades,  call- 
ed Dia,  or  Naxos,  which  was  dedicated  to  him  when 
he  married  Ariadne  ;  or  lastly,  from  the  city  of  Ny- 
sa,  in  which  Bacchus  reigned. 

Evius,  or  Evous  :  for,  in  the  war  of  the  giants, 
when  Jupiter  did  not  see  Bacchus,  he  thought  that 
he  was  killed,  and  cried  out  "  Alas  son  !"  or  because 
when  he  found  that  Bacchus  had  overcome  the  u^iants, 
by  clianging  himself  into  a  lion,  he  cried  out  again, 
"  Well  done  son."     Ew  ine 

Evan,  from  the  acclamations  of  Bacchantes,  who 
were  therefore  called  Evantes. 

Euchius,  because  Bacchus  fills  his  glass  plenti- 
fully, even  up  to  the  brim. 

Eleleus  and  Eleus,  from  the  acclamation  where- 
with they  animated  the  soldiers  before  the  fight,  or 
encouraged  them  in  the  battle  itself.  The  same  ac- 
clamation was  also  used  in  celebrating  the  Orgia, 
which  were  sacrifices  ofiered  up  to  Bacchus. 

laccus  was  also  one  of  his  names,  from  the  noise 
which  men  make  when  drunk  :  and  this  title  is  given 
him  by  Claudian  :  from  whose  account  of  Bacchus, 
we  may  learn,  that  he  was  not  always  naked,  but 
sometimes  clothed  with  the  skin  of  a  tiger. 

LenaDus  ;  because  wine  palliates  and  assuages  the 
sorrows  of  men's  minds;  or  from  a  Greek  word, 
which  signifies  the  "  vat"  or  "  press"  in  which  wine 
is  made. 

Liber  and  Liber  Pater,  from  libero  ;  as  in  Greek 
they  call  him  LXiv6ip-o<i  [JEhutherios]  the  "  Deliver- 
er ;"  for  he  is  the  symbol  of  liberty,  and  was  wor- 
shipped in  all  (i'ee  cities. 

Lya?us  and  Lyceus  signify  the  same  with  Liber  : 
for  wine  frees  the  mind  from  cares  ;  and  those  who 


68 

have  drank  plentifully,  speak  whatever  comes  in  theu 
minds. 

The  sacrifices  of  Bacchus  were  celebrated  in  the 
night,  therefore  he  is  called  Nyctilius  and  Nysgeus, 
because  he  was  educated  upon  the  mountain  Nysa. 

Rectus,  'o^^(55  [Or^//05,]  because  he  taught  a  king 
of  Athens  to  dilute  his  wine  with  water  ;  thus  men, 
who  through  much  drinking  staggered  beibre,  by 
mixing  water  with  dieir  wine,  begin  to  go  straight. 

His  mother  Semele  and  his  nurse  were  sometimes 
called  Thyo  :  therefore  from  this  they  called  him 
Thyoneus. 

Lastly,  he  w^as  called  Trlumphus  ;  because,  v/hen 
in  triumph  the  conquerors  went  into  the  capitol,  the 
soldiers  cried  out,  "  lo  triuinphe  /" 

QUESTIO.XS  FOR  EXJlMIKJiTIOK. 

From  what  is  the  name  of  Bacchus  derived  ? 

What  are  his  companions  called? 

Why  was  Bacchus  called  Biformis  ? 

Why,  Brisa!us  ? 

Why,  Bromius  ? 

W'hy,  Bi mater? 

Why,  Bilge nes  ? 

Why,  Dithyrambus  ^ 

Why,  Dionysius  ? 

W' hy,  Evius  ? 

W  hv,  Evan  ? 

Why,  Eleus  ? 

W' hy, lacchus  ? 

Why,  Liber? 

Why,  Nyctilius? 

Why,  Rectus? 

Why,  Triumphus  ? 

SEC.  3.— ACTIONS  OF  BACCHUS. 

Bacchus  invented  so  many  things  useful  lo  man- 
kind, either  in  finishing  controversies,  in  building 
cities,  in  making  laws,  or  obtaining  victories,  that 
he  was  declared  a  god  by  the  joint  suffrages  of  tlie 
whole  world.  What  Bacchus  coidd  not  himself  do, 
his  priestesses  w^re  able  to  accomplish ;  for  by  stri 


GO 

king  the  earth  with  their  thyrsi,  they  drew  forth 
rivers  of  milk  and  honey  and  wine,  and  wrought  se^ 
veral  other  m.racles,  without  the  least  labour.  Yet 
these  received  their  wliole  power  Irom  Bacchus. 
y  1.  He  invented  the  use  of  wine:  and  first  taught 
the  art  of  planting  the  vine  from  winch  it  is  made ; 
as  also  the  art  of  making  honey,  and  tilling  the 
earth.  This  he  did  among  the  people  of  Egypt, 
who  therefore  honoured  hnn  as  a  god,  and  called 
him  Osiris.  The  ass  of  Naupha  merits  praise,  be- 
cause by  knawing  vines  he  taught  the  art  of  pru- 
ning them. 

2.  He  invented  commerce  and  merchandise,  and 
found  out  navigation,  when  he  was  king  of  Phoe- 
nicia. 

3.  At  the  time  when  men  v.  andered  about  unset- 
tled, like  beasts,  he  reduced  them  into  society,  he 
taught  them  to  worship  the  gods. 

4.  He  subdued  India,  and  many  other  nations, 
riding  on  an  elephant :  he  victoriously  subdued 
Egypt,  S} ria,  Phrygia,  and  all  the  east ;  where  he 
erected  pillars,  as  Hercules  did  in  tlie  west :  he  first 
invented  triumphs  and  crowns  ibr  kings. 

5.  Bacchus  was  desirous  to  reward  Midas  the  king 
of  Phrygia,  because  he  had  done  him  some  service  ; 
and  bid  him  ask  what  he  would.  Midas  desired, 
that  whatever  he  touched  migiit  become  gold  :  Bac- 
chus was  troubled  that  Midas  asked  a  gift  which 
might  prove  so  destructive  to  himself;  however,  he 
granted  his  request,  and  gave  him  the  power  he  de- 
sired. Immediately  whatever  Midas  touched  became 
gold,  even  his  meat  and  drink ;  he  then  perceived 
tliat  he  had  foolishly  begged  a  destructive  gift :  and 
desired  Bacchus  to  take  his  gift  to  himself  again^ 
Bacchus  consented,  and  bid  him  bathe  in  the  river 
Pactolus ;  Midas  obeyed  ;  and  hence  the  sand  of 
that  river  became  gold,  and  the  river  was  called 
Chrysorrhoos,  or  Auritiuus. — Ovid  Met,  i\ 


70 

6.  When  he  was  yet  a  child,  some  Tyrrhenian 
mariners  found  him  asleep,  and  carried  him  into  a 
ship  :  Bacchus  first  stupiiied  them,  stopping  the  ship 
in  such  a  manner  that  it  was  innnoveable  ;  aiterward 
he  caused  vines  to  spring  up  the  ship  on  a  sudden, 
and  ivy  twining  about  the  oars ;  and  when  the  sea- 
men were  almost  dead  with  the  fright,  he  threw  them 
fieadlong  into  die  sea,  and  changed  them  into  Dol- 
phins.    Ovid  Met.  3. 

QUEST  10 jYS  for  EXMIIJVATIOjY. 

Why  was  Bacclius  declared  a  god  ? 

What  were  his  priestesses  able  to  perform  ? 

What  was  the  (irst  invention  attributed  to  him  ? 

Why  does  the  ass  of  Nauplia  merit  praise  ? 

What  were  Bacchus'  second  and  third  inventions  ? 

What  did  he  do  as  a  conqueror  ? 

What  was  Midas'  request  ? 

What  circumstance  occurred  when  he  was  but  a  child? 

SEC.  4.-  THE  SACRIFICES  OF  BACCHUS. 

In  sacrifices  there  are  three  things  to  be  consi- 
dered, viz.  tiie  creatures  offered,  the  priests  who  ofTer 
them,  and  the  sacrifices  themselves,  which  are  cele- 
brated with  peculiar  ceremonies. 

The  fir,  the  ivy,  bindweed,  the  fig,  and  the  vine, 
were  consecrated  to  Bacchus.  So  also  were  the 
dragon  and  the  pie,  signifying  the  talkativeness  of 
drunken  people.  The  goat  was  slain  in  his  sacrifi- 
ces, because  he  is  a  creature  destructive  to  the  vines, 
the  Egyptians  sacrificed  a  swine  to  his  honour  be- 
fore their  doors. 

2.  The  priests  and  priestesses  of  Bacchus  were 
the  Satyrs,  the  Sileni,  the  Naiades,  but  especially 
the  reveling  women  called  Bacchse,  from  Bacchus' 
name. 

3.  The  sacrifices  themselves  were  various,  and 
celebrated  with  different  ceremonies,  according  to 
the  variety  of  places  and  nations.  They  were  cele- 
brated on  stated  days  of  the  year,  with  the  greatest 
regard  to  religion,  as  it  was  then  professed. 


71 

Oscopboria  were  the  first  sacrifices  offered  up  to 
Bacchus  :  they  were  instituted  by  the  Phoenicians, 
and  wlien  they  were  celebrated,  tlie  boys,  carrying 
vine-leaves  in  their  hands,  went  in  ranks  praying 
from  the  temple  of  Bacchus,  to  the  chapel  of  Pallas. 

The  Trieterica  were  celebrated  in  the  winter  at 
night,  by  the  Bacchce,  who  went  about  armed, 
making  a  great  noise  and  pretending  to  foretell  things 
to  come.  They  were  entitled  Trieterica,  because 
Bacchus  returned  from  his  Indian  expedition  after 
three  years. 

The  Epilenaeawere  games  celebrated  in  the  time 
of  vintage,  before  the  press  for  squeezing  the  gi*apes 
was  invented.  They  contended  with  one  another, 
in  treading  the  grapes,  who  should  soonest  press  out 
most  must ;  and  in  the  mean  time  they  sung  the 
praises  of  Bacchus,  begging  that  the  nmst  might  be 
sweet  and  good. 

Apaturia  were  feasts  celebrated  in  honour  ofBac* 
chus,  setting  forth  how  greatly  men  are  deceived  by 
wine.  These  festivals  were  principally  observed  by 
the  Athenians. 

Ambrosia  were  festivals  observed  in  January,  a 
month  sacred  to  Bacchus ;  for  which  reason  this  month 
was  called  Lenteus,  or  Lengeo,  because  the  wine  was 
brought  into  the  city  about  that  time.  But  the  Ro- 
mans called  these  feasts  Brumalia,  Bruma,  one  of 
the  names  of  Bacchus  among  them  ;  and  they  cele- 
brated them  twice  a  year,  in  the  months  of  Februa- 
ry and  August. 

Ascolia,  feasts  so  called  from  a  Greek  word  sig- 
nifying a  boracho,  or  leathern  bottle ;  several  of 
which  were  produced  filled  with  air,  or,  as  others 
gay,  with  wine.  The  Athenians  were  wont  to  leap 
upon  them  with  one  foot,  so  that  they  would  some- 
times fall  down  ;  however,  they  thought  they  did  a 
great  honour  to  Bacchus  hereby,  because  they 
trampled  upon  the  skins  of  the  goat,  which  animal 


72 


IS  the  greatest  ci^emy  to  the  vines.  Bat  among  the 
Romans,  rewards  were  distributed  to  tliose  who,  by 
artifieially  leaping  upon  these  leathern  bottles,  over- 
came the  rest;  then  all  of  them  together  ealled  aloud 
upon  Baeehus  eonl'usedly,  and  in  unpolished  verse  ; 
and  putting  on  masks,  they  earried  his  statue  about 
their  vineyards,  daubing  their  laees  with  the  bark  of 
ti'ees,  and  the  dregs  of  wine:  and  returning  to  his  al- 
tar they  presented  him  with  their  oblations  in  basins, 
and  then  burnt  them.  In  the  last  place,  they  hung 
upon  the  highest  trees  little  wooden  or  earthen  ima- 
ges of  Bacchus,  which  from  the  smallness  of  their 
mouths  were  called  Oscilla :  they  intended  that  the 
places,  where  these  small  images  were  set  up  in  the 
trees,  should  be,  as  it  were,  so  many  watch-towers, 
from  which  Bacchus  might  look  after  the  vines,  and 
see  that  they  suflered  no  injuries.  These  festivals, 
and  the  images  hung  up  when  they  were  celebrated, 
are  elegantly  described  by  Virgil,  in  the  second 
book  of  his  Georgics. 


"  Atque  inter  pocula  Iseti 


MoUibus  in  pratis  unctos  saliere  per  utres ; 
IVec  non  Ausonii,  Troja  gens  missa  coloni, 
Versibus  incomptis  ludunl,  risuque  solulo, 
Oraque  corticibus  sumiinl  horrenda  cavatis: 
Et  te,  B^cche,  vocant  per  carmina  Ista,  tibiqu^ 
Oscilla  ex  alia  suspendunt  mollia  pinu. 
Hinc  omnis  largo  pubescit  vinea  fretu,  &,c." 

And  glad  with  Bacchus,  on  the  grassy  soil, 
Leap'd  o'er  the  skins  of  goats  besmear'd  with  oil. 
Thus  Roman  youth,  deriv'd  from  ruin'd  Troy, 
In  rude  Saturnian  rhymes  express  their  Joy; 
Deforni'd  with  vizards,  cut  from  barks  of  trees, 
With  taunts  and  laughter  loud  their  audience  please, 
In  jolly  hymns  thiey  praise  the  god  ol"  wine, 
Whose  earthen  images  adorn  the  pinej 
And  there  are  hung  on  high,  in  honour  of  the  vine. 
A  madness  so  devout  the  vineyard  fill,  he. 

Lastly,  the  Bacchanalia,  or  Dionysia,  or  Or^a, 
were  the  feasts  of  Bacchus,  among  the  Romans, 
which  at  first  were  solemnized  in  February,  at  midp 


clay,  by  women  only  ;  but  afterward. they  wer6  pel'* 
formed  in  the  most  scandalous  manner  by  men  and 
women,  and  young  boys  and  girls,  till  the  senate  by 
an  edict  abrogated  this  festival,  as  Diagundus  did 
at  Thebes.  Pentheus,  king  of  Thebes,  attempted 
the  same  thing,  but  the  Bacchae  barbarously  killed 
him ;  whence  came  the  story,  that  his  mother  and 
sisters  tore  him  in  pieces,  fancying  he  was  a  boar. 
There  is  a  story,  that  Alcithoe,  the  daughter  of  Nin- 
yas,  and  her  sisters,  despising  the  sacrifices  of  Bac- 
chus, staid  at  home  spinning  while  the  Orgia  were 
celebrating,  and  on  that  account  were  changed  into 
bats. — Ovid  Met.  4. — And  it  is  said  that  Lycurgus, 
who  attempted  many  times  to  hinder  these  Baccha- 
nalia in  vain,  cut  off  his  own  legs,  because  he  had 
rooted  up  the  vines  to  the  dishonour  of  Bacchus. 

qUESTWXS  FOR  EXAMLYATIOJY. 

What  al-e  the  three  things  to  be  considered  in  regard  to  6flcrt» 
fices  ? 

What  things  were  consecrated  to  Bacchus  ? 

Who  were  the  priests  and  priestesses  of  Bacchus  ? 

Were  the  sarifices  all  of  one  kind  ? 

Which  were  the  first  sacrifices  ;  by  whom  were  they  instituted, 
and  how  were  they  celebrated  ? 

What  were  the  Epilenaa  ? 

What  were  the  Apaturia  ? 

What  were  the  Ambrosia  ? 

What  were  the  Ascolia,  and  how  were  they  celebrated? 

What  were  the  Oscilla? 

Repeat  the  lines  of  Virgil  on  this  subject  ? 

What  were  the  Bacchanalia  ? 

SEC.  5.— THE  HISTORICAL  SENSE  OF  THE  FABLE. 
BACCHUS  AN  EMBLEM  EITHER  OF  NIMROD  OR 
MOSES. 

Some  writers  say,  that  Bacchus  is  the  same  with 
Nimrod  :  the  reasons  of  these  opinions  are  :  1.  The 
similitude  of  the  words  Bacchus  and  Barchus,  which 
signifies  the  son  of  Chus,  that  is,  Nimrod.  2.  They 
think  the  name  of  Nimrod  may  allude  to  the  He* 
brew  word  namur,  or  the  Chaldee,  namer^  a  tiger  t 
7 


74 

aiid  accordingly  the  chariot  of  Bacchus  was  drawn 
by  tigers,  and  himself  clothed  vvidi  the  skin  of  a  ti- 
ger. 3.  Bacchus  is  sometimes  called  Nebrodes, 
which  is  the  very  same  as  Nimrodus.  4.  Moses 
styles  Nimrod  "  a  great  hunter,"  and  we  find  that 
Bacchus  is  styled  Zagreus,  which  in  Greek  signifies 
the  same  thing.  Nimrod  presided  over  the  viiieSj 
shice  he  was  the  first  king  of  Babylon,  where  were  the 
most  excellent  wines,  as  the  ancients  often  say. 

Others  think  that  Bacchus  is  IMoses,  because  ma- 
ny things  in  the  fable  of  the  one  seemed  derived 
from  the  history  of  the  other.  For,  first,  some  feign 
tliat  he  was  born  in  Egypt,  and  presently  shut  up  in 
an  ark,  and  thrown  upon  the  waters,  as  IMoses 
Was.  2d.  The  surname  of  Bimatur,  which  belongs 
to  Bacchus,  may  be  ascribed  to  Moses,  who,  be- 
side one  mother  by  nature,  had  another  b}^  adoption, 
king  Pharaoh's  daughter,  od.  They  were  both 
beautiful  men,  brought  up  in  Arabia,  good  soldiers, 
and  had  women  in  their  armies.  4th.  Orpheus  di- 
rectly styles  Bacchus  a  lawgiver,  and  calls  him 
Moses,  and  further  attributes  to  him  the  two  tables 
of  the  law.  5th.  Bacchus  was  called  Bicornis  ;  and 
accordingly  the  face  of  Moses  appeared  double  horn- 
ed, when  he  come  down  from  the  mountain,  where 
he  had  spoken  to  God  ;  the  rays  of  glory  that  dart- 
ed from  his  brow,  resembling  the  sprouting  out  of 
horns.  6th.  As  snakes  were  sacrificed,  and  a  dog 
given  to  Bacchus,  as  a  companion ;  so  IMoses  had 
his  companion  Caleb,  which  in  Hebrew  signifies  '*  a 
dog."  7th.  As  the  Baccha?  brought  water  from  a 
rock,  by  striking  it  with  their  thyrsi,  and  the  coun- 
try wherever  they  came  flowed  with  wine,  milk,  and 
honey  ;  so  the  land  of  Canaan,  into  which  Mo- 
ses conducted  the  Israelites,  not  only  flowed  with 
milk  and  honey,  but  with  wine  also ;  as  appears 
from  that  large  bunch  of  grapes  which  two  men  car- 
ried between  them  upon  a  staff*     8th»  Bacchus  dried 


75 

up  the  rivers  Orontes  and  Hydaspes,  by  striking 
them  with  his  thyrsis,  and  passed  through  them,  as 
Moses  passed  through  tlie  Red  Sea.  9th.  It  is  said 
also,  that  a  httle  ivy- stick,  thrown  down  by  one  of 
the  Bacchffi  upon  the  ground,  crept  Hke  a  dragon, 
and  twisted  itself  about  an  oak.  And,  10.  That 
tlie  Indians  once  were  all  covered  with  darkness, 
while  those  Bacchae  enjoyed  a  perfect  day. 

From  this  you  may  collect,  that  the  ancient  inven- 
tion of  fables  have  borrowed  many  things  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  to  patch  up  their  conceits.  Thus 
Homer  says,  that  Bacchus  wrestled  with  Pallone,  to 
whom  he  yielded  ;  whicli  fable  is  taken  from  the  his- 
tory of  the  angel  wrestling  with  Jacob.  In  like 
manner  Pausanias  reports,  that  tlie  Greeks  at  Troy 
found  an  ark  that  was  sacred  to  Bacchus ;  v/hich 
when  Euripidus  had  opened,  and  viewed  the  statue 
of  Bacchus  laid  dierein,  he  was  presently  struck  with 
madness  :  the  ground  of  which  fable  is  in  the  second 
book  of  Khigs,  where  the  Sacred  History  relates 
that  the  Bethshemites  were  destroyed  by  God,  be- 
cause they  looked  with  too  much  curiosity  into  the 
ark  of  the  covenant. 

Wine  and  its  effects  are  understood  in  this  fable 
of  Bacchus.  He  was  educated  by  the  Naiades, 
nymphs  of  the  rivers  and  fountains ;  whence  men 
may  learn  to  dilute  their  wine  with  water. 

Bacchus  is  naked,  he  cannot  conceal  any  thing. 
Wine  always  speaks  truth,  it  opens  all  the  secrets  of 
the  mind. 

The  poet  says  Bacchus  has  horns. 

"  Accedant  capiti  corr.ua,  Bacclius  ei-b." — Oc.  Ep.  Saph. 
But  put  on  horns,  and  Bacchus  thou  shalt  be. 

Wine  makes  even  the  meanest  people  bold,  inso- 
lent, and  fierce,  exercising  their  fury  and  rage  against 
others,  as  a  mad  ox  gores  with  his  horns. 

He  is  crowned  with  ivy ;  because  that  plant,  be- 


76 

ing  always  green  and  flourishing,  by  its  natural 
coldness  assuages  the  heat  occasioned  by  too  much 
wine. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

In  what  respects  do  Bacchus  and  Nimrod  resemble  each  other  ? 
In  what  respects  is  Bacchus  like  Moses  ? 
AVhat  does  the  fable  of  Bacchus  teach  ? 


;;  CHAPTER  VI. 

SEC.  1.— MARS.     HIS  IMAGE  AND  DESCENT. 

Mars  is  fierce  and  sour  in  his  aspect ;  terror  is 
every  where  in  his  looks,  as  well  as  in  his  dress  ;  he 
sits  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses,  which 
are  driven  by  a  distracted  woman  ;  he  is  covered 
with  armour,  and  brandishes  a  spear  in  his  right 
hand,  as  though  he  breathed  fire  and  death,  and 
threatened  every  body  with  ruin  and  destruction. 

Mars,  the  god  of  war,  who  is  often  seen  on  horse- 
back, in  a  formidable  manner,  with  a  whip  and  a 
spear  together.  The  dog  was  consecrated  to  him, 
for  his  vigilance  in  the  pursuit  of  his  prey ;  the  wolf, 
for  his  rapaciousness  ;  the  raven,  because  he  dili- 
gently follows  armies  when  they  march,  and  watches 
for  the  carcasses  of  the  slain  ;  and  the  cock,  for  his 
watchfulness,  whereby  he  prevents  all  surprise.  But, 
that  you  may  understand  (iYery  thing  in  the  picture, 
observe,  that  the  creatures  which  draw  the  chariot 
are  not  horses,  but  Fear  and  Terror.  Sometimes 
Discord  goes  beibre  them  in  tattered  garments,  and 
Clamour  and  Anger  go  behind.  Yet  some  say,  that 
Fear  and  Terror  are  servants  to  Mars  j  and  accord- 
ingly, he  is  not  more  awful  and  imperious  in  his  com- 
mands, than  they  are  ready  and  exact  in  their  obe- 
dienqe. 


B 


77 

"Fer  galeam,  Bellona  milii,  nexusqnes  rotanim 
Teiide,  Favor  ;  Fra^iia  rapidos,  Fonnido,  juo:aIes." 

Claud,  in  Ru/. 

My  helmet  let  Bellona  bring  ;  Terror  my  traces  fit; 
And,  panic  Fear,  do  thou  the  rapid  driver  sit. 

-"  Saevit  medio  in  certamine  Mavors, 


Ccelatus  ferro,  tristesque  ex  aithere  Dirse, 

Et  scissa  gaudens  vadit  Discordia  palla, 

Quam  cum  sanguineo  sequitur  Bellona  Hagello." 

Virg.  JEn.  S 

Mars  in  the  middle  of  the  shining  shield 
Is  grav'd,  and  strides  along  the  liquid  field. 
The  Diraj  come  from  iieav'n  with  quick  descent, 
And  Discord,  died  in  blood,  with  garments  rent, 
:  Divides  the  press  :   her  steps  Bellona  treads, 

And  shakes  her  iron  rod  above  their  heads. 

Bellona  is  the  goddess  of  war,  and  the  companion 
of  Mars  ;  or,  as  others  say,  his  sister,  or  wife.  She 
prepares  for  him  his  chariot  and  horses  when  he  goes 
to  fight.  It  is  plain  that  she  is  called  Bellona  fronx 
helium.  She  is  otherwise  called  Duellona  from  du- 
ellum,  or  from  the  Greek  word  /SeAov;?  [belone]  a 
*'  needle,"  whereof  she  is  said  to  be  the  inventress. 
Her  priests,  the  Bellonarii,  sacrificed  to  her  in  their 
own  blood ;  they  hold  in  each  hand  naked  swords, 
with  which  the}^  cut  their  shoulders,  and  wildly  run 
up  and  down  like  men  mad  and  possessed  :  upon 
which  people  thought,  that  (after  the  sacrifice  was 
ended)  they  were  able  to  foretell  future  events.  Clau- 
dian  introduces  Bellona  combing  snakes  ;  and 
another  poet  describes  her  shaking  a  burning  torch, 
with  her  hair  hanging  loose,  stained  and  clotted  with 
blood,  and  running  through  the  midst  of  the  ranks  of 
the  army,  uttering  horrid  shrieks  and  dreadful  groans. 

"  Ipsa  faciem  quatiens,  et  flavam  sanguine  multo 
Sparsa  comam,  medias  acies  Bellona  pererrat. 
Stridet  Tartarea  nigro  sub  pectore  Diva 
Lethiferum  murmur."  SiL  I.  5. 

Her  torch  Bellona  waving  through  the  air, 
Sprinkles  with  clotted  gore  her  flaming  hair, 
7* 


78 

And  tlirou«;h  both  armies  up  and  down  doth  flee  , 
Wliile  tVoni  her  horrid  l)reast  Tissiphone 
A  dreadful  murmur  sends. 

And  in  Homer  we  have  a  description  of  a  battle 
iu  which  Mars,  Minerva,  and  Discord,  are  engaored* 

Loud  clamours  rose  from  various  nations  round, 
Mix'd  was  the  murmur,  and  confus'd  the  sound: 
Each  host  now  joins,  and  each  a  god  inspires; 
These  Mars  incites,  and  those  Minerva  fires. 
Pale  Flight  around,  and  dreadful  Terror  reign  ; 
And  Discord,  raging,  bathes  the  purple  plain. 
Discord,  dire  sister  of  the  slaught'ring  pow'r, 
Small  at  her  birth,  but  rising  every  hour; 
While  scarce  the  skies  her  horrid  head  can  bound  ; 
She  stalks  on  earth,  and  shakes  the  world  around; 
The  nations  bleed  where'er  her  steps  she  turns : 
The  groan  still  deepens,  and  the  combat  burns. — Iliad, 

Before  the  temple  of  this  goddess,  there  stood  a 
pillar  called  Bellica,  over  which  the  herald  threw  a 
spear,  when  he  proclaimed  war. 

Mars  is  said  to  be  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Juno, 
though,  according  to  Ovid's  story,  he  is  the  child  of 
Juno  only. 

He  married  Nerio  or  Nerione,  which  word  in  the 
Sabian  language  signifies  "  valour  and  strength," 
and  from  her  the  Claudian  family  derived  the  name 
of  Nero. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXAMINJlTIOJf, 

How  is  Mars  represented  .? 

How  is  his  chariot  drawn  and  driven  } 

Wh.al  animals  are  consecrated  to  Mars? 

Kepcai  the  lines  in  Virgil. 

Vho  is  Hollona? 

\^  ho  is  Beilonarii  ? 

Hf»w  is  Belloiia  represented  by  Claudian  ? 

Who  wa«  Mars  ? 

Whom  did  he  marry.' 

Sl^C.  2— NAMES  AND  ACTIONS  OF  MARS. 

The  name  of  IMars  sets  forth  the  power  and  influ- 
ence he  has  in  war,  where  he  presides  over  the  sol- 


79 

diers ;  and  his  other  name,  Mavors,  shows  that  all 
great  exploits  are  executed  and  brought  about 
through  his  means. 

The  Greeks  call  him  A^r^  [^Ai'es,']  either  from  the 
destruction  and  slaughter  which  he  causes  ;  or  from 
the  silence  which  is  kept  in  war,  where  actions,  not 
words,  are  necessary.  But  from  whatever  words 
this  name  is  derived,  it  is  certain  that  those  famous 
names  Areopagus  and  Areopagita,  are  derived  from 
A§7}q.  The  Areopagus,  that  is,  the  "  hilP'  or  "  moun- 
tain" of  Mars,  was  a  place  at  Athens,  in  which  Mars, 
being  accused  of  murder  and  incest,  was  forced  to 
defend  himself  in  a  trial  before  twelve  gods,  and  was 
acquitted  by  six  voices  ;  from  which  time,  that  place 
became  a  court  wherein  were  tried  capital  causes, 
and  the  things  belonging  to  religion.  The  Areopa- 
gitae  were  the  judges,  whose  integrity  and  credit 
was  so  great,  that  no  person  could  be  admitted  into 
their  society,  unless  he  delivered  in  public  an  ac- 
count of  his  past  life,  and  was  found  in  every  part 
thereof  blameless.  And,  that  the  lawyers  who  plead- 
ed, might  not  blind  the  eyes  of  the  judges  by  their 
charms  of  eloquence,  they  were  obliged  to  plead 
their  causes  without  any  ornaments  of  speech  ;  if 
they  did  otherwise,  they  were  immediately  com- 
manded to  be  silent.  And,  lest  they  should  be 
moved  to  compassion  by  seeing  the  miserable  con- 
ditions of  the  prisoners,  they  gave  sentence  in  the 
dark,  without  lights  ;  not  by  words,  but  on  paper ; 
hence,  when  a  man  speaks  little  or  nothing,  they 
used  proverbially  to  say  of  him,  that  "  He  is  as  si- 
lent as  one  of  the  judges  in  the  Areopagus." 

His  name  Gradivus  comes  from  his  stateliness  in 
marching;  or  from  his  vigour  in  brandishing  his 
spear. 

He  is  called  Quirinus,  from  Curis  or  Quiris,  signi- 
fying a  spear ;  whence  comes  securis  or  semicuris,  a 
piece  of  a  spear.    And  this  name  was  afterward  attri- 


80 

buted  to  Romulus,  because  be  was  esteemed  tbe  son  of 
Mars  ;  from  wbom  the  Romans  were  called  Quirites. 
Gradivus  is  the  name  ol'  iMars  when  he  rages ;  and 
Quirinus,  when  he  is  quiet.  And  accordingly  there 
were  two  temples  at  Rome  dedicated  to  him  ;  one 
within  the  city,  which  was  dedicated  to  IMars  Quiri- 
nus, the  keeper  of  the  city's  peace ;  the  other  with- 
out the  city,  near  the  gate,  to  Mars  Gradivus,  the 
warrior,  and  the  defender  of  the  city  against  all  out- 
ward enemies. 

The  ancient  Latins  applied  to  him  the  title  of  Sa- 
lisubsulus,  or  "  dancer,"  from  sallu,  because  his  tem- 
per is  very  unconstant  and  uncertain,  inclining  some- 
times to  this  side,  and  sometimes  to  that,  in  wars  : 
whence  we  say,  that  the  issue  of  battle  is  uncertain, 
and  the  chance  dubious.  Bui  we  must  not  think 
that  IMars  was  the  only  ixod  of  war ;  ibr  Bellona, 
Victoria,  Sol,  Luna,  and  Pluto,  used  to  be  reckoned 
in  the  number  of  martial  deities.  It  was  usual  with 
the  Lacgedemonians  to  shackle  the  feet  of  the  image 
of  Mars,  that  he  should  not  lly  from  them  :  and 
among  the  Romans,  the  priests  Salii  were  instituted 
to  look  after  the  sacrifices  of  Mars,  and  go  about 
the  city  dancing  with  their  shields. 

The  poets  relate  only  one  action  of  this  terrible 
god  :  this  is  his  attachment  to  Venus,  and  her  treach- 
ery. Sol  was  the  first  that  discovered  it,  and  he 
immediately  acquainted  Vulcan,  Venus'  husband. 
Vulcan  instantly  made  a  net  of  iron,  whose  links 
were  so  small  and  slender,  that  it  was  invisible.  By 
this  the  lovers  were  caught,  Alectryon,  Mars'  fa- 
vourite, suffered  punishment,  because,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  watch,  he  fell  asleep,  and  so  gave 
Sol  an  opportunity  to  slip  in ;  therefore  Mars 
changed  him  into  a  cock,  which  to  this  day  is  so 
mindful  of  his  old  fault,  that  he  constantly  gives  no- 
tice of  the  approach  of  the  sun,  by  cjovving. 


81 

qUESTIO.YS  FOR  EXAMIKATIOXf 

What  does  the  name  of  Mars  import  ? 
What  do  the  Greeks  call  him  ? 
What  names  are  derived  from  A^»;  ? 
Who  were  the  Areopagitaj  ? 

From  what  does  INIars  derive  his  name  Gradivus  ? 
Why  is  he  called  Quirinus  ? 

On  what  account  has  he  the  title  of  Salisubsulus  ? 
What  action  is  related  of  Mars  ? 

Who  discovered  Venus'  treacheiy,  and  what  was  done  in  con 
sequence  ?  • 

What  happened  to  Alectryon  ? 

SEC.  3.— THE  STORY  OF  TEREUS  ;    AND  THE  SACRI- 
FICES OF  MARS. 

Tereus,  the  son  of  Mars,  by  the  nymph  Bistonis, 
married  Progne,  the  daughter  of  Pandion,  king  of 
Athens,  when  he  was  king  of  Trace.  This  Progne 
had  a  sister  called  Philomela,  a  virgin  in  modesty 
and  beauty  inferior  to  none.  She  lived  with  her  fa- 
ther at  Athens.  Progne,  being  desirous  to  see  her 
sister,  asked  Tereus  to  fetch  Philomela  to  her,  with 
which  he  complied.  Tereus  fell  desperately  in  love 
with  Philomela  ;  and  as  they  travelled  together,  be- 
cause she  refused  to  favour  his  addresses,  he  over- 
powered her,  rut  out  her  tongue,  and  threw  her  into 
a  gaol ;  and  returning  afterwards  to  his  wife,  pre- 
tended that  Philomela  died  in  her  journey  ;  and  that 
his  story  might  appear  true,  he  shed  many  tears  and 
put  on  mourning.  But  injuries  sharpen  the  wit^ 
and  a  desire  of  revenge  makes  people  cunning :  foi 
Philomela,  though  she  was  dumb,  found  out  a  way 
to  tell  her  sister  the  \illany  of  Tereus.  She  de- 
scribed the  violence  offered  to  her  in  embroi- 
dery, and  sent  the  work  folded  up  to  her  sister. 
Progne  no  sooner  viewed  it,  than  she  was  so  trans- 
ported with  passion  that  she  could  not  speak,  her 
thoughts  being  wholly  taken  up  in  contriving  how 
she  should  avenge  the  affront.  First,  then,  she  has- 
tened to  her  sister,  and  brought  her  home  without 


82 

Tereus'  knowledge.  While  she  was  thus  meditating 
revenge,  her  young  son  Itys  came  and  embraced  his 
motlier ;  but  she  carried  him  aside  into  the  remote 
parts  of  the  house,  and  slew  him  while  he  hung 
about  her  neck,  and  called  her  mother.  When  she 
had  killed  him,  she  cut  him  iiito  pieces,  and  dressed 
the  flesh,  and  gave  it  Tereus  lor  supper,  who  fed 
heartily  on  it.  After  supper  he  sent  for  his  son  Itys  : 
Progne  told  him  what  she  had  done,  and  Philomela 
showed  him  his  son's  head.  Tereus,  incensed  wuth 
rage,  rushed  on  them  both  v/ith  his  drawn  sword ; 
but  they  fled  awa}',  and  fear  added  wings  to  their 
flight :  so  tjjat  Progne  became  a  swallow,  and  Phi- 
lomela a  nightingale.  Tereus  was  also  changed 
into  a  hoopoe  [i//?«^3«,]  which  is  one  of  the  filthiest 
of  all  birds.  Tiie  gods  out  of  pity  changed  Itys 
into  a  pheasant.      Ovid  Met.  C. 

To  Mars  were  sacrificed  the  wolf  for  his  fierce- 
ness ;  the  horse  for  iiis  usefulness  in  war  ;  the  wood- 
pecker and  tlie  vulture  ibr  tlieir  ravenousness  ;  the 
cock  lor  his  vigilance,  which  is  a  prime  virtue  among 
soldiers  ;  and  grass,  because  it  grows  in  towns  laid 
desolate  by  war. 

Among  the  ancient  rites  belonging  to  Mars,  the 
most  memorable  is  the  following  :  Whoever  under- 
took the  conduct  of  any  war,  went  into  the  vestry  of 
the  temple  of  ]\lars ;  and  first  shook  the  Ancilla,  a 
holy  shield,  afterwards  the  spear  of  the  image  of 
Mars,  and  said  "  Mars,  watch." 

Qui  belli  alicujns  susceperat  curam,  sacrarium  Martis  ingres- 
sus,  primo  Ancilla  commovebat,  post  hastum  simulacri  ipsius , 
diceiis,  Mars,  Vigila.     Servius 

qUESTIOKS  FOR  EXjIMLX.ITIOX. 

Who  was  Tereus,  and  whom  did  he  marry? 

Give  some  account  of  the  story  of  Philomela.  [The  pupil 
might  shut  the  book,  and  write  the  story  from  memory,  in  his 
own  words.] 

Into  what  were  Progne,  Philomela,  Terejs,  and  Itys  meta» 
jnorpho.'ied  ? 


83 

What  were  the  sacrifices  offered  to  Mars,  and  on  what  a»* 
count  -^ 

What  rile  did  the  ancient  warriors  perform  before  they  went 
out  to  battle  ? 


CHAPTER  VIL 

SEC.  1.— THE  CELESTIAL  GODDESS,  JUNO.  HER 
LMAGE  AND  DESCENT. 

We  have  viewed  the  five  celestial  gods ;  let  us 
now  look  upon  the  goddesses  that  follow  them  in 
order.  First  observe  Juno,  riding  in  a  golden  cha- 
riot drawn  by  peacocks,  holding  a  sceptre  in  ner 
hand,  aiid  wearing  a  crown  beset  with  roses  and 
lilies. 

Juno's  chariot  is  finely  represented  by  Homer  | 
and  Hebe  is  mentioned  as  her  attendant  • — 

At  her  command  rush  fortli  the  steeds  divine; 
Rich  with  immortal  gold  their  tra|)pings  shine: 
Bright  Hebe  waits :  by  Hebe,  ever  young, 
The  whirling  wheels  are  to  the  chariot  hung. 
On  the  bright  axle  turns  the  bidden  wheel 
Of  sounding  brass  ;  the  polish'd  axle,  steel : 
Eight  brazen  spokes  in  radiant  order  flame  ; 

5uch  as  the  heav'ns  produce  :  and  round  the  gold 

rv.ro  brazen  rings  of  work  divine  were  roU'd. 

The  bossy  naves,  of  solid  silver,  shone  ; 

iraces  of  gold  suspend  the  moving  throne  j 

"he  car,  behind,  an  arching  figure  bore  ; 

The  bending  concave  form'dan  arch  before  ; 

rdver  the  beam,  th'  extended  yoke  was  gold, 

Vnd  golden  reins  th'  immortal  coursers  hold.     Homer. 

Juno  is  the  queen  of  the  gods,  and  botli  the  sistei 
and  wife  of  Jupiter  : 

"  Jovisque 

Et  soror  et  conjus."     Virg.  JEn.  1. 

Her  father  was  Saturn,  and  her  mother  Ops ;  sht 
was  born  in  the  island  Samos,  and  there  lived 
•ill  she  was  married. 


64 

She  seems  very  an^^ust  and  majestical.  How 
beautiful  is  tliat  lace,  how  comely  are  all  her  limbs  ? 
how  well  does  a  sceptre  become  those  hands,  and  a 
crown  that  head  ?  how  much  beauty  is  there  in  her 
smiles  f  She  is  full  of  majesty,  and  w^orthy  of  the 
greatest  admiration. 

Her  servant  is  Iris,  the  daughter  of  Thaumus  and 
Electra,  and  sister  to  the  Harpies.  She  is  Juno's 
messenger,  and  INlercury  is  Jupiter's ;  though  Jupi- 
ter and  the  other  gods,  the  Furies,  nay,  sometimes 
men  have  sent  her  on  messages.  Because  of  her 
swiftness  she  is  painted  with  waigs,  and  she  some- 
times rides  on  a  rainbow,  as  Ovid  says  : 

'  Effugit,  et  remeat  per  quos  modo  venerat  arcus."     Met.  3. 
On  the  same  bow  she  went  she  soon  returns. 

It  is  her  office  to  unloose  the  souls  of  women  from 
the  chains  of  the  body,  as  Mercury  unlooses  those 
of  men.  We  have  an  example  of  this  in  Dido,  who 
laid  violent  hands  on  herself,  for  when  she  was  al- 
most dead,  Juno  sent  Iris  to  loose  her  soul  from  her 
body,  as  Virgil  describes  at  large,  in  the  fourth  book 
of  his  ^neid  : 

"Turn  Juno  omnipotenslongum  miserata  dolorem, 
Difficilesque  obitus,  trim  demisit  Olyrapo, 
Quae  luctantem  animum  nexos(]ue  resolveret  artus. 
Ergo  Iris  croceis  per  cffilum  roscida  pennis, 
Mille  trabens  varies  adverso  Sole  colores, 
Devolat,  et  supra  caput  astitit :  hunc  ego  Dili 
Sacrum  jussa  fero,  teque  isto  corpore  solve. 
Sic  ait,  et  dextra  crinem  secat :  omnis  et  una 
Dilapsus  calor,  atque  in  ventos  vita  recessit." 

Then  Juno,  grieving  that  she  should  sustain 
A  death  so  ling'riii?;,  and  so  full  of  pain, 
Sent  Iris  down  to  free  her  from  the  strife 
Of  lab'ring  nature  and  dissolve  her  life. 
Downward  the  various  goddess  took  her  flight, 
And  drew  a  thousand  colours  from  the  light;  ■ 
Then  stood  about  the  dying  lover's  head, 
And  said,  I  thus  devote  thee  to  the  dctid : 
This  ott''ring  to  the  infernal  gods  I  bear. 


85 

Thus  while  she  spoke,  she  cut  the  fatal  hair : 

The  struggling  soul  was  loos'd  and  life  dissolv'd  in  air 

But  in  this  Iris  diifers  from  JMcrcury ;  for  he  is 
sent  both  from  heaven  and  hell,  but  she  is  sent  from 
heaven  only.  He  oftentimes  was  employed  in  mes- 
sages of  peace,  whence  he  was  called  the  peacema- 
ker ;  but  Iris  was  always  sent  to  promote  strife  and 
dissension,  as  if  she  were  the  goddess  of  discord  : 
and  therefore  some  think  that  her  name  was  given 
to  her  from  the  contention  which  she  perpetually 
creates ;  though  others  say,  she  was  called  Iris,  be- 
cause she  delivers  her  messages  by  speech,  and  not 
in  writing 

QUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATIOK. 

How  is  Juno  represented  ? 
Repeat  Homer's  description  of  her  chariot  ? 
Who  is  Juno,  and  what  relation  does  she  bear  to  Jupiter  and 
Saturn  ? 

How  is  she  represented  with  regard  to  her  figure  ? 

Who  is  Iris,  and  for  what  purpose  was  she  employed  ? 

How  is  she  painted  ? 

What  office  does  Iris  bear  with  respect  to  the  souls  of  wometj 

In  what  does  Iris  differ  from  Mercury  ? 

SEC.  2.— THE  CHILDREN,  AND  DISPOSITION  OF  JUNO. 

Vulcan,  Mars,  and  Hebe,  were  the  children  of 
Juno  by  Jupiter.  Although  some  say  that  Hebe 
had  no  other  parent  than  Juno.  Hebe,  on  account 
of  her  extraordinary  beauty  was,  by  Jupiter,  made 
goddess  of  youth,  and  held  the  office  of  cupbearer 
of  Jupiter.  But  by  an  unlucky  fall  she  offended 
the  king  of  the  gods,  who  turned  her  out  from  her 
office,  and  put  Ganymede  in  her  stead. 

Juno's  worst  fault  was  jealousy,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing are  instances.  Jupiter  loved  lo,  the  daughter 
of  Inachus.  When  Juno  observed  that  Jupiter  was 
absent  from  heaven  she  suspected  the  cause  of  his 
absence.  Therefore  she  immediately  flew  down  to 
the  earth  after  him.  As  soon  as  Jupiter  perceived 
8 


86 

her  coming,  fearful  of  a  chiding,  he  turned  the  young 
lady  into  a  white  cow.  Juno  seeing  the  cow,  asked 
wlio  she  was,  and  what  was  her  origin  ?  Jupiter 
said,  she  was  born  on  a  sudden  out  of  the  earth. 
The  cunning  goddess,  suspecting  the  matter,  de- 
sired to  have  the  cow,  which  Jupiter  could  not  re- 
fuse, lest  he  should  increase  her  suspicion.  So  Ju- 
no, taking  tlie  cow,  gave  it  to  Argus  to  keep  :  this 
Argus  had  a  hundred  eyes,  two  of  which  in  tlieir 
turns  slept,  while  the  others  watched. 


-"  Servandam  tradldit  Are-o. 


Centum  luminibus  cinctum  caput  Argus' habebat : 

Inde  suis  vicibus  capicbaut  biria  (piietem  ; 

Ca3tera  servabant,  atnue  in  statione  manebant. 

Constiterat  quocuncjue  modo,  spectabat  ad  lo ; 

Ante  oculos  lo,  quaravis  aversus,  habebat." — Ov.  Met,  1 

The  goddess  then  to  Argus  straight  convey'd 
Her  gift,  and  him  the  watchful  keeper  made. 
■'  Argus'  head  a  hundred  eyes  possest, 

And  only  two  at  once  reclin'd  to  rest :  " 

The  others  watch'd,  and,  in  a  constant  round, 
Refreshment    in  alternate  courses  found. 
Where'er  he  turn'd  he  always  lo  view'd  ; 
lo  he  saw,  though  she  behind  him  stood. 

Thus  was  lo  under  constant  confinement ;  nor 
was  the  perpetual  vigilance  of  her  keeper  the  only 
misfortune  ;  for  she  was  fed  with  nothing  but  insipid 
leaves  and  bitter  herbs.  This  hardship  Jupiter 
could  not  endure  ;  therefore,  he  sent  Mercury  to  Ar- 
gus, to  set  lo  free.  Mercury^  under  the  disguise  of 
a  shepherd,  came  to  Argus,  and  with  the  music  of 
his  pipe  lulled  him  asleep,  and  then  cut  o/This  head. 
Juno  was  grieved  at  Argus'  death,  and  to  make  him 
some  amends  she  turned  him  into  a  peacock,  and 
scattered  his  hundred  eyes  about  the  tail  of  the  bird. 

-"  Centumque  Oculos  nox  occupat  una 


Excipit  hos,  volucrisque  suae  Saturnia  pennis 
Collocat,  et  gemmis  caudam  stellantibus  implet." 

There  Argus  lies  ;  and  all  that  wond'rous  light, 
Which  gave  his  hundred  eyes  their  useful  sight, 
Lies  buried  now  in  one  eternal  night. 


87 

But  Juno,  that  she  might  his  eyeE  retain, 
Soon  fix'd  tliem  in  her  gaudy  peacock's  train. 

Nor  did  her  rage  against  lo  cease,  for  she  commit- 
ted her  to  the  furies  to  be  tormented.  Despair  and 
Anguish  made  her  flee  into  Eygpt,  where  she  beg- 
ged of  Jupiter  to  restore  her  to  her  former  shape. 
Her  request  being  granted,  she  thenceforth  took  the 
name  of  Isis,  the  goddess  of  the  Egyptians,  and  was 
worshipped  with  divine  honours. 

Juno  gave  another  evidence  of  her  jealousy.  For, 
when  her  anger  against  Jupiter  was  so  violent  that 
nothing  could  pacify  her,  king  Cithseron  advised 
Jupiter  to  declare  that  he  intended  to  take  another 
wife.  The  contrivance  pleased  him,  wherefore  he 
takes  an  oaken  image,  dressed  very  beautifullj^,  and 
puts  it  into  a  chariot ;  and  declares  publicly,  that  he 
is  about  to  marry  Platoea  the  daughter  of  ^sopus. 
The  report  came  to  Juno's  ears,  who  immediately 
fell  furiously  upon  the  image,  and  tore  its  clothes, 
till  she  discovered  the  jest ;  and  laughing  very  hear- 
tily, she  was  reconciled  to  her  husband.  She  was 
afterward  called  Citheronia,  from  king  Cithaerpn, 
the  adviser  of  the  trick. 

qUESTIOjXS  FOR  EXAMIJVATIOJ^. 

Who  were  Juno's  children  ? 

What  was  Hebe's  office,  how  did  she  lose  it,  and  who  sae* 
ceeded  her  in  it  ? 

What  was  Juno's  great  fault? 

With  whom  was  Jupiter  enamoured? 

Into  what  was  lo  metamorphosed  by  Jupiter,  and  what  ac- 
count did  he  give  of  the  matter  to  his  wife  ? 

What  did  Juno  do  with  lo  in  her  new  form  ? 

What  became  of  the  eyes  of  Argus  after  his  death  ? 

Bepeat  the  lines  from  Ovid 

What  became  of  lo  ? 

To  what  was  Jupiter  advised  by  Citharon,  and  what  was  tbft 
result? 

SEC.  3.— NAMES  OF  JUNO. 
Juno  was  called  Argiva,  from  the  Argivi,  among 
whom  sacrifices  were  celebrated  to  her  honour ;  in 


88 

which  a  hetacomb,  that  is,  one  hundred  oxen,  were 
sacrificed  to  her.  They  made  her  image  of  gold 
and  ivory,  hoJdhig  a  pomegranate  in  one  hand,  and 
a  sceptre  in  the  other ;  upon  the  top  of  which  stood 
a  cuckoo,  because  Jupiter  changed  himself  into  that 
bird,  when  he  fell  in  love  with  her 

Bunea,  from  Bunseus  tlie  son  of  Mercury,  who 
built  a  temple  to  this  goddess  at  Corinth. 

Coprotina,  or  the  nones  of  July,  that  is,  on  the 
seventh  day,  maid-servants  celebrated  her  festival, 
together  with  several  free  women,  and  offered  sacri- 
fices to  Juno  under  a  fig-tree  (cajprijicus)  in  memo- 
ry of  the  extraordinary  virtue,  which  enabled  the 
maid-servants  to  preserve  the  honour  of  the  Roman 
name.  For,  after  the  city  was  taken,  the  enemy, 
determined  to  oppress  the  Romans,  sent  a  herald 
to  them,  saying,  if  they  desired  to  save  the  remain- 
der of  their  city  from  ruin,  they  must  send  them 
their  wives  and  daughters.  The  senate  was  dis- 
tracted at  the  thought.  A  maid-servant  named  Phi- 
lotis  or  Tutela,  took  with  her  several  other  maid- 
servants, some  dressed  like  mistresses  of  families, 
and  some  like  virgins,  and  went  over  to  the  enemy. 
Livy,  the  dictator,  disposed  them  about  the  camp ; 
they  incited  the  men  to  drink  much,  because  it  was 
a  festival :  the  wine  made  the  soldiers  sleep  soundly ; 
and  a  sign  being  given  from  a  wild  fig-tree,  the  Ro- 
mans came  and  slew  them  all.  These  maid-servants 
were  made  free,  and  portions  out  of  the  public  treasu- 
ry were  given  them  :  the  day  was  afterwards  called 
Nonae  Caprotinse,  from  the  wild  fig-tree,  whence 
they  had  the  sign  :  and  they  ordered  an  anniversary 
sacrifice  to  Juno  Caprotina  to  be  celebrated  imder 
a  wild  fig-tree,  the  juice  of  which  was  mixed  with 
the  sacrifices  in  memory  of  the  action. 

Curis  or  Curitis,  from  her  spear,  called  Curis  in 
the  language  of  the  old  Sabines.  The  matrons  were 
understood  to  be  under  her  guardianship ;  whence, 


89 

gays  Plutarch,  the  spear  is  sacred  to  her,  and  many 
of  her  statues  lean  upon  spears,  and  she  herself  is 
called  Quiritis  and  Curitis.  Hence  springs  the  cus- 
tom, that  the  bride  combs  her  hair  with  a  spear 
found  sticking  in  the  body  of  a  gladiator  ;  and  taken 
out  of  him  when  dead,  which  spear  was  called  Has- 
ta  Celibaris. 

Crinis  nubentlum  comebatur  hasta  celibari  qiia^.  scilicet  in 
corpore  gladiatoris  stetisset  abjecti  occisique.  Festus.  Arnob 
contra  Gentes. 

Cingula,  from  the  girdle  which  the  bride  wore 
when  she  was  led  to  her  marriage ;  for  this  girdle 
was  unloosed  with  Juno's  good  leave,  who  was 
tliought  the  patroness  of  marriage. 

Dominduca  and  Interduca,  from  bringing  home 
tlie  bride  to  her  husband's  house. 

Egeria,  because  she  promoted,  as  they  believed, 
tlie  facility  of  the  birth. 

Quod  earn  partui  egerendo  opitulari  crederent.     Festus. 

Februalis,  Februata,  Februa,  or  Februla,  because 
they  sacrificed  to  her  in  the  month  of  February. 
Her  festivals  was  celebrated  on  the  same  day  with 
Pan's  feasts,  when  the  Luperci,  the  priests  of  Pan, 
the  god  of  shepherds,  running  naked  through  the 
city,  and  striking  the  women  with  Juno's  cloak  (that 
is,  with  the  skin  of  a  goat)  purified  them.  The  ani- 
mals sacrificed  to  Juno  were  a  white  cow,  a  swine, 
and  a  sheep  :  the  goose  and  the  peacock  were  also 
sacred  to  her. 

Juga,  because  she  is  the  goddess  of  marriage.  A 
street  in  Rome,  where  her  altar  stood,  was  hence 
called  Jugarius  :  and  anciently  people  used  to  enter 
into  the  yoke  of  marriage  at  that  altar.  She  is  also, 
by  some,  called  Socigena,  because  she  assists  in  the 
coupling  the  bride  and  bridegroom. 

Lacinia,  from  the  temple  of  Lacinium,  built  and 
dedicated  to  her  by  Lacinius, 
8* 


90 

Luciiia  and  Liicllia,  either  from  the  grove,  in 
which  she  had  a  temple,  or  from  the  light  of  this 
world,  into  whicli  infants  are  brought  by  her.  Ovid 
comprises  both  these  significations  in  a  distich. 

*'  Gratia  Lucina,  dedit  lifflc  tibi  nomina  lucus. 
Vel  quia  principium  lu,  dea,  lucis  babes." — Fast   2. 

Lucina,  hail,  so  nam'd  from  thy  own  grove, 
Or  from  the  light  thou  giv'st  us  from  above. 

Nuptialis  ;  and  when  they  sacrificed  to  her  mider 
this  name,  they  took  the  gall  out  of  the  victim,  and 
cast  it  behind  the  altar ;  to  signify  that  there  ought 
to  be  no  gall  or  anger  between  those  who  are  mar- 
ried. 

Opigena,  because  she  gives  help  to  women  in  la- 
bour. 

Parthenos  the  virgin ;  she  was  so  called,  as  we 
are  told,  from  this  circumstance  :  there  was  a  foun- 
tain among  the  Argivi,  called  Canathus,  where  Ju- 
no washing  herself  every  year  was  thought  to  re- 
cover her  youth  and  beaut}-. 

Perfecta,  that  is,  perfect ;  for  marriage  was  es- 
teemed the  perfection  of  human  life. 

She  was  called  Pronuba ;  marriages  were  not 
lawful  unless  Juno  was  first  called  upon. 

Regina^  queen ;  which  title  she  gives  herself  as 
we  read  in  Virgil  : 

*'  Ast  ego,  quse  divum  incedo  reghia,  Jovisque 
Et  soror  et  conjux." — JEn.  1. 

I  But  I  who  walk  in  awful  state  above, 

The  queen  of  heav'n,  sister  and  wife  of  Jove. 

Sospita,  because  all  the  women  were  supposed  to 
be  under  her  safeguard,  every  one  of  which  had  a 
Juno,  as  every  man  had  his  Genius. 

Unxia  v/as  another  of  her  names,  because  the 
posts  of  the  door  were  anointed,  where  a  new-mar- 
ried pair  lived,  whence  the  wife  was  called  Uxor. 


m^ 


n  r^ 


Mmm^Y^ 


91 

QUESTIOJ^S  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Why  Avas  Juno  called  Argiva  ? 
How  did  the  Argivi  represent  her  ? 
Give  in  writing  the  reasons  for  her  name  Caprotina. 
How  did  she  obtain  the  name  Curis  and  Curitis  ? 
What  custom  arose  from  this  ? 
Why  was  she  named  Cingula  ? 

On  Avhat  accounts  was  she  named  Dominduca  and  Interduca  ' 
Why  was  she  called  Februalis  ? 
What  animals  were  sacrificed  to  her  ? 
On  what  account  was  she  named  Juga,  and  Socigena  ? 
Why  is  she  called  Lacinia  and  Lucina  ? 

What  circumstances  took  place  when  they  sacrificed  to  *    '«» 
under  the  name  of  Nuptialis  ? 

Why  was  she  called  Parthenos,  and  why  Perfecta? 
What  title  does  she  give  hei'self  in  Virgil  ? 
Why  is  she  called  Sospita  and  Unxia? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SEC.  1.— MINERVA,    OR   PALLAS.      HBR   IMAGE    AND 
BIRTH. 

Minerva — it  may  be  asked  why  she  is  clothed  with 
armour,  rather  than  with  women's  clothes.  What 
means  the  head  piece  of  gold,  and  the  crest  that  glit- 
ters so  ^  To  what  purpose  has  she  a  golden  breast- 
plate, and  a  lance  in  her  right  hand,  and  a  terrible 
shield  in  her  left  ^  On  her  shield  is  a  grisly  head 
beset  with  snakes  :  and  the  cock  and  owl  are  paint- 
ed on  it. 

Minerva  is  armed,  rather  than  dressed  in  women's 
clothes,  because  she  is  the  president  and  inventress 
of  war.  The  cock  stands  by  her  because  he  is  a 
fighting  bird,  and  is  often  painted  sitting  on  her  head- 
piece. 

The  head,  which  seems  so  formidable  with  snakes, 
she  not  only  carries  on  her  shield,  but  sometimes  also 
in  the  midst  of  her  breast ;  it  is  the  head  of  Medusa, 
one  of  the  Gorgons,  of  which  Virgil  gives  a  beauti- 


92 

ful  description.  The  Basilisk  is  also  sacred  to  her, 
to  denote  the  great  sagacity  of  her  mind,  and  the 
dreadful  effects  of  her  courage,  she  being  the  god- 
dess both  of  wisdom  and  of  war  ;  for  the  eye  of  the 
basilisk  is  not  only  piercing  enough  to  discover  the 
smallest  object,  but  it  is  able  to  strike  dead  whatso- 
ever creature  it  looks  on.  She  wears  an  olive  crown, 
because  it  is  the  emblem  of  peace ;  and  war  is 
only  made  that  peace  may  follow.  Though  there 
is  another  reason,  too,  why  she  wears  the  olive  :  for 
she  first  taught  mankind  the  use  of  that  tree.  When 
Cecrops  built  a  new  city,  Neptune  and  Minerva 
contended  about  its  name  ;  and  it  was  resolved,  that 
whichsoever  of  the  two  deities  found  out  the  most  use- 
ful creature  to  man,  should  give  their  name  to  the 
city.  Neptune  brought  a  horse ;  and  Minerva 
caused  an  olive  to  spring  out  of  the  earth,  which 
was  judged  a  more  useful  creature  to  man  than  the 
horse  :  therefore,  Minerva  named  the  city,  and  call- 
ed it  Athense,  after  her  own  name,  in  Greek  'A^3)v<«, 

The  most  celebrated  of  the  statues  of  Phidias, 
after  that  of  Jupiter  Olympius,  was  the  statue  of  Mi- 
nerva in  her  temple  at  Athens  :  it  was  thirty-nine 
feet  high. 

History  mentions  five  Minervas.  We  shall  speak 
of  that  only  which  was  born  of  Jupiter,  and  to  whom 
the  rest  are  referred.  The  account  given  of  her 
birth  was  this  :  when  Jupiter  saw  that  his  wife  Juno 
had  no  children,  he  through  grief  struck  his  fore- 
head, and  after  three  months  brought  forth  Minerva  • 
whence  she  was  called  Tritonia :  Vulcan  ^striking 
his  head  with  the  blow  of  a  hatchet,  was  amazed  to 
see  an  armed  virago  leap  out  of  the  brain  of  her  fa- 
ther, instead  of  a  tender  infant. 

"  De  capitis  fertur  sine  matre  paterni 

Vertice,  cum  clypeo  prosiluisse  suo. 

*  Lucian.  in  Dial.  Deor. 


93 

Out  of  her  father's  scull,  as  they  report, 
Without  a  mother,  all  in  ai-ms  leap'd  forth. 

They  say  besides,  that  it  rained  gold  in  the  island 
of  Rhodes,  when  Minerva  was  born,  an  observation 
made  by  Claudian  also. 

"  Auratos  Rhodiis  imbres,  nascente  Minerva, 
Induxisse  Jovem  ferunt." 

At  Pallas'  birth,  great  Jupiter,  we're  told, 
Bestrew'd  the  Rhodians  with  a  shower  of  gold. 

qUESTlOA'S  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

From  what  does  Minerv'a  derive  her  name  ? 
How  is  she  represented,  and  what  are  the  figures  r«presente<l 
on  the  shield  ? 
Why  is  she  armed,  and  what  does  the  cock  signify  ? 
Why  is  the  basilisk  sacred  to  Minerva  ? 
Why  does  she  wear  an  olive  croAvn  ? 
How  did  Athens  derive  its  name  ? 
Which  is  the  most  celebrated  statue  of  Minerva  ? 
What  was  the  origin  of  Minerva  ? 
What  happened  at  Rhodes  when  Minerva  was  born  ? 

SEC.  2.— NAMES  OF  MINERVA. 

Minerva  is  so  called  from  diminishing,  \a  minisJ] 
And  it  is  very  true,  that  she,  being  the  goddess  of 
war,  diminishes  the  number  of  men,  and  deprives 
families  of  their  head,  and  cities  of  their  members. 
But  the  name  may  be  derived  from  threatenings,  be- 
cause her  looks  threaten  the  beholders  with  violence, 
and  strike  them  with  terror.  Or,  perhaps,  she  has 
her  name  from  the  good  admonition  she  gives ;  be- 
cause she  is  the  goddess  of  wisdom.  She  is  com- 
monly thought  to  be  wisdom  itself;  hence,  when 
men  pretend  to  teach  those  that  are  wiser  than  them- 
selves, it  is  proverbially  said,  Sus  Minervam,  c-yo- 
'A^;jvav,  Cic.  9.  Epist.  18.  "  That  sow  teaches  Mi- 
nerva." 

The  Greeks  call  her  Athena,  because  she  never 
sucked  the  breast  of  a  mother  or  nurse  ;  for  she  was 
born  out  of  her  father's  head,  in  full  strength,  and 


94 

tras  therefore  called  motherless.  Plato  says  she  had 
this  name  from  her  skill^  in  divine  affairs.  Others 
think  she  was  so  named,  "l-becaiise  she  is  never  en- 
slayed,  but  enjoys  the  most  perfect  freedom,  as  the 
Stoics  well  observe,  who  say,  The  philosopher  is 
the  only  freeman. 

Liber  nemo  est  nisi  sapiens.     Tollius  in  Paradv^x. 

She  is  called  Pallas,  from  a  giant  of  the  same  name, 
whom  she  slew  :  or  from  the  lake  Pallas,  wh^Te  she 
was  first  seen  by  men ;  or,  lastly,  which  is  more 
probable,  from  brandishingj  her  spear  in  war. 

She  had  many  other  names ;  but  we  shall  only 
mention  two  or  three,  after  we  have  given  some  ac- 
count of  the  Palladium. 

The  Palladium  was  an  image  of  Pallas,  preserved 
in  the  castle  of  the  city  of  Troy  ;  for  while  the  cas- 
tle and  temple  of  Minerva  were  building,  they  say, 
tills  image  lell  from  heaven  into  it,  before  it\^as  co- 
vered with  a  roof.  This  raised  every  body's  admi- 
ration ;  and  when  the  oracle  of  Apollo  was  consult- 
ed, he  answered,  "  That  the  city  should  be  S'xfe  so 
long  as  that  image  rem.ained  within  it."  Therefore, 
when  the  Grecians  besieged  Tro}',  they  found  that 
it  was  impossible  to  take  the  city,  unless  the  Palla- 
dium was  taken  out  of  it.  This  business  was  left  to 
Ulysses  and  Diomedes,  who  undertook  to  creep  into 
the  city  through  the  common  sewers,  and  bring  away 
the  fatal  image.  When  they  had  performed  the  task, 
Troy  was  taken  without  difficulty.  Some  say  it 
was  not  lawful  for  any  person  to  remove  the  Palla- 
dium, or  even  to  look  upon  it.  Others  add,  that 
it  was  made  of  wood,  so  that  it  was  a  wonder  how 
it  could  move  the  eyes  and  shake  the  spear.     Others, 

•  ^K^nx  quisa  ^ayev,  vel  'Hf/^vov,  hoc  est,  qujE  divina  cogni* 
scit.     Plato  in  Clatyio. 

t  Ab  «  non  et  ^r,<ra.(r$eti  servire. 

i  /ivo  TV  nriKkuv  -re  oo.v,  a  vibranda  hasta      Serv.  in  £a.  1. 


95 

Dn  the  contrary,  report,  that  it  was  made  of  the 
bones  of  Pelops,  and  sold  to  the  Trojans  by  the 
Scythians.  They  add,  that  ^neas  recovered  it,  af- 
ter it  had  been  taken  by  the  Greeks,  from  Diomedes, 
and  carried  it  with  him  into  Italy,  where  it  was  laid 
up  in  the  temple  of  Vesta  as  a  pledge  of  the  stability 
of  the  Roman  empire,  as  it  had  been  before  a  token 
of  the  security  of  Troy.  And,  lastly,  others  write, 
that  there  were  two  Palladia  ;  one  of  which  Diome- 
des took,  and  the  other  jEneas  carried  with  him. 

Parthenos,  i.  e.  virgin,  was  another  of  Minerva's 
names  :  whence  the  temple  at  Athens,  where  she  was 
most  religiously  worshipped,  was  called  Parthenon. 
For  Minerva,  like  Vesta  and  Diana,  was  a  perpetual 
virgin ;  and  such  a  lover  of  chastity,  that  she  de- 
prived Tiresias  of  his  sight,  because  he  saw  her 
bathing  in  the  fountain  of  Helicon :  but  Tiresias' 
mother,  by  her  petitions,  obtained,  that  since  her 
son  had  lost  the  eyes  of  his  body,  the  sight  of  his 
mind  might  be  brighter  and  clearer,  by  having  the 
gift  of  prophecy.  Ovid,  indeed,  assigns  a  diiferent 
cause  of  his  blindness.  There  is  another  illustrious 
instance  of  the  chastity  of  Minerva :  when  Neptune 
had  successfully  made  love  to  the  beautiful  Medusa 
(whose  hair  was  gold)  in  the  temple  of  Minerva,  the 
goddess  changed  into  snakes  that  hair  which  had 
tempted  him ;  and  decreed,  that  those  who  looked 
upon  her  thereafter  should  be  turned  into  stone. 

Her  nkme  Tritonia  was  taken  from  the  lake  Tri- 
ton, where  she  was  educated  ;  as  we  also  may  learn 
from  Lucian,  who  mentions  the  love  which  Pallas 
bears  to  this  lake  ; 

"  Hanc  et  Pallas  amat,  patrio  quod  vertice  nata 
Terrarum  primam  Lybien  (nam  proxlma  ccelo  est, 
Ut  probat  ipse  calor)  tetigit,  stagnique  quieta 
Vultus  vidit  aqua,  posuitque  in  margine  plantas, 
Et  se  delecta,  Tritonida  dixit,  ab  unda." 

This  Pallas  loves,  born  of  the  brain  of  Jove, 
Who  first  on  Lybia  trod  (tie  heat  doth  prove 


96 

This  land  next  heav'n  :)  she  standing  by  the  side, 

Her  face  within  the  quiet  water  spied, 

And  gave  herself  from  the  lov'd  pool  a  name 

Tritonia. 

Or  from  rpira^  or  rpirm  [tritoTi]  a  word  which  m  the 
old  Boeotian  and  ^ohc  languages  signifies  a  head, 
because  she  was  born  from  Jupiter's  head.  Yet, 
before  we  leave  the  lake  Triton,  let  me  tell  you  the 
ceremonies  that  were  performed  upon  the  banks  of  it 
in  honour  of  Minerv  a.  A  great  concourse  of  peo- 
ple out  of  the  neighbouring  towns  assembled  to  see 
the  following  performance  :  all  the  virgins  came  in 
companies,  armed  with  clubs  and  stones,  and  on  a 
sign  being  given,  they  assaulted  each  other  ;  she 
who  was  first  killed  was  not  esteemed  a  virgin,  and 
therefore  her  body  was  disgracefully  thrown  into  the 
lake ;  but  she  who  received  the  most  and  the  deepest 
wounds,  and  did  not  desist,  was  carried  home  in  tri- 
umph in  a  chariot,  in  the  midst  of  the  acclamations 
and  praises  of  the  whole  company. 

Epyccrii  ^Ei'gatisl  operaria^  "  workwoman"  was 
her  name  among  the  Samians,  her  worshippers ; 
because  she  invented  divers  arts,  especially  the  art 
of  spinning,  as  v/e  learn  from  the  poets  :  thus  the 
distaff  is  ascribed  to  her,  and  sometimes  she  is  call- 
ed Minerva,  from  her  name,  because  she  was  the  in- 
ventress  of  it.  Although  Minerva  so  much  excelled 
all  others  in  spinning,  yet  Arachne,  a  young  lady  of 
Lydia,  very  skilful  at  spinning,  challenged  her  in 
this  art ;  but  it  proved  her  ruin  ;  for  the  goddess 
tore  her  work,  and  struck  her  forehead  with  a  spoke 
of  the  wheel.  This  disgrace  drove  her  into  despair, 
so  that  she  hanged  herself;  but  Pallas,  out  of  com- 
passion, brought  her  again  to  lifcj  and  turned  her 
into  a  spider,  which  continues  still  employed  in 
spinning : 

"  Frontem  percussit  Arachnes  ; 

Non  tulit  infaelix,  laqueoque  animosa  ligavit 


D7 

Gullura,  pendentem  Pallas  miscrata  levavit ; 
AI4UC  ila,  Vive  quideui,  pende  tamen,  iniproba  dixit." 

Ov.  Mel.  6. 

Arachne  tlirice  upon  the  foreliead  smote  ; 

AVhose  great  heart  brooks  it  not ;  about  her  throat 

A  rope  she  ties :  remorseful  Pallas  staid 

Her  falling  weight : — Live  wretch,  yet  hang,  she  said. 

She  is  called  Musica ;  because,  says  Pliny,  the 
dragons  or  serpents  on  her  shield,  which,  instead  of 
hair  encompassed  the  Gorgon's  head,  did  ring  and 
resound,  as  if  the  strings  of  a  harp  near  them  were 
touched.  But  it  is  more  likely  that  she  was  so  na* 
med,  because  she  invented  the  pipe ;  upon  which, 
when  she  played  by  the  river-side,  and  saw  in  the 
water  how  much  her  lace  was  swelled  and  delbrmed 
by  blowing  it,  she  was  moved  with  indignation,  and 
threw  it  aside,  saying,  the  sweetness  of  the  music  is 
too  dear,  if  purchased  with  so  much  loss. 

Glaucopis  was  another  of  her  names ;  because 
her  eyes,  like  the  eyes  of  an  owl,  were  gra}^  or  sky- 
coloured,  that  is,  of  a  green  colour  mixed  with  white. 

She  was  also  called  Pylotis,  from  a  Greek  word, 
signifying  a  "  gate  :"  for,  as  the  image  of  Mars  was 
set  up  in  the  suburbs,  so  her  effigy  or  picture  was 
placed  on  the  city  gates,  or  doors  of  houses ;  by 
which  they  signified,  that  we  ought  to  use  our  wea- 
pons abroad,  to  keep  the  enemy  from  entering  our 
towns  ;  but  in  the  town  we  must  use  the  assistance 
of  Minerva,  not  of  Mars;  that  is,  the  state  ought  to 
be  governed  at  home  by  prudence,  counsel,  and  law. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMIXATIOK, 

What  are  the  reasons  given  for  the  name  Minerva? 
What  proverb  has  her  great  wisdom  furnished,  and  what  doci 
the  term  Minervale  signify  ? 
Why  is  she  called  Athena? 
Why  is  she  named  Pallas  ? 
Give  some  account  in  writing  of  the  Palladium, 
Why  was  she  called  Parthenos  ? 
What  is  the  history  of  Tiresias  ? 
What  is  related  of  Neptune  and  Medusa  ? 

9 


98 

Why  was  JVlinerva  named  Trilonia? 

What  ceremony  was  performed  on  the  banks  of  the  lakb 
Trito!.i  ? 

Wliy  is  Mitierva  called  Erp;atis  ? 

Repent  the  lines  from  Ovid. 

Why  is  iViiiiorva  calicd  iMuslca? 

Why  is  she  named  Glaucopis? 

Why  is  hhe  called  Fylotis  ? 

Wjiat  inference  is  drawn  from  the  circumstance  ? 

SEC.  3.— THE  SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  FABIE. 

By  the  Story  of  Minerva,  the  poets  intended  to  re>* 
present  wisdom  ;  that  is,  true  and  skilful  knowledge^ 
joined  with  discreet  and  prudent  manners.  They 
hereby  signify  also  the  understanding  of  the  noblest 
arts,  and  the  accomplishments  of  the  mind  ;  like- 
wise the  virtues,  and  especially  chastity  :  for, 

1.  ]\Iinerva  is  said  to  be  born  out  of  Jupiter's 
brain  :  because  the  wit  and  ingenuity  of  man  did 
not  invent  the  useful  sciences,  v.hich,  for  the  good  of 
men  were  derived  from  the  brain  of  Jupiter  ;  that  is, 
from  the  inexhausted  fountain  of  the  divine  wi-sdom, 
whence  not  only  the  arts  and  sciences,  but  the  bless- 
ings of  wisdom  and  virtue  also  proceed. 

2.  Pallas  was  born  armed  ;  because  a  wi^  man's 
soul  being  fortified  with  wisdom  and  virtue,  is  invin- 
cible :  he  is  prepared  and  armed  against  fortune ; 
in  dangers  he  is  intrepid,  in  crosses  unbroken,  in 
calamities  impregnable.  Thus,  though  the  image  o/ 
Jupiter  perspires  in  bad  weather,  yet  as  Jupiter  him- 
self is  dry  and  unconcerned,  so  a  wise  man's  mind 
is  hardened  against  the  assaults  that  fortune  can 
make  upon  his  body. 

3.  She  invented  and  exercised  the  art  of  spinning; 
and  hence  other  young  women  may  learn,  if  they 
would  preserve  their  good  character,  never  to  in- 
dulge idleness,  but  to  employ  themselves  continu- 
ally in  some  sort  of  work  j  after  the  example  of 
Lucretia. 

4.  As  the  spindle  and  the  distaff  were  the  inven- 


CTx  rm 


"T-Eiwa 


99 

tion  of  Minerva,  so  they  are  the  arms  of  every  vir- 
tuous woman.  For  which  reason  those  instruments 
were  formerly  carried  before  the  bride  when  she  was 
brought  to  her  husband's  house ;  and  somewhere  it 
is  a  custom,  at  the  funeral  of  women,  to  throw  the 
distafl'  and  spindle  into  the  grave  with  them. 

5.  An  owl,  a  bird  seeing  in  the  dark,  was  sacred 
to  Minerva,  and  painted  upon  her  images,  which  is 
the  representation  of  a  wise  man,  who,  scattering 
and  dispelhng  the  clouds  of  ignorance  and  error,  is 
dear  sighted  where  others  are  stark  blind. 

qUESTWJYS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

What  do  the  poets  represent  by  the  story  of  Minerva  ? 

Why  is  Minerva  said  to  have  orio;inated  from  Jupiter's  brain? 

Why  was  she  said  to  be  born  armed  ? 

What  lesson  should  Minerva  teach  as  the  inventress  of  spiQ>- 
ning  ? 

Why  were  the  spindle  and  distaff  carried  before  the  brid«, 
when  she  went  to  her  husband's  house  ? 

What  does  the  owl  represent  as  sacred  to  Minerva  ? 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SEC.  1.— VENUS.  HER  IMAGE.  HER  DESCENT. 

Turn  j^our  eyes  now  to  a  sweet  object,  and  view 
that  goddess  in  whose  countenance  the  graces  sit 
playing,  and  discover  all  their  charms.  You  see  a 
pleasantness,  a  mirth,  and  joy  in  every  part  of  her 
face.  Observe  with  what  becoming  pride  she  holds 
up  her  head  and  views  herself,  where  she  finds 
nothing  but  joys  and' soft  delights.  She  is  clothed 
with  a  purple  mantle  glittering  with  diamonds.  By 
her  side  stand  two  Cupids,  and  round  her  are  three- 
Graces,  and  after  follows  the  lovely  beautiful  Adc>-> 
nis,  who  holds  up  the  goddess'  train.  The  chariot 
in  which  she  rides  is  made  of  ivory,  finely  carve(l> 


100 

and  beautifully  painted  and  gilded.  It  is  drawn  by 
8wans  and  doves,  or  swallows  as  Venus  directs, 
when  she  pleases  to  ride. 

Venus,  whom  in  more  honourable  terms  men  style 
the  "  goddess  of  the  Graces,"  the  author  of  elegance, 
beauty,  neatness,  delight,  and  cheerfulness,  is  in  re- 
ahty  tlie  mistress,  president,  and  patron  of  all  manner 
of  licentiousness ;  and  it  should  seem,  by  the  v\or- 
ship  which  was  formerly  paid  to  her,  that  men  used  al 
that  period  to  erect  altars  to,  and  deify  their  vices ; 
tliat  they  hallowed  the  greatest  impieties  with  frank- 
incense, and  thought  to  ascend  into  heaven  by  the 
»teps  of  their  iniquities. 

You  will  see  her  sometimes  painted  like  a  young 
virgin  rising  from  the  sea,  and  riding  in  a  shell ;  at 
otlier  times  like  a  woman  holding  the  shell  in  her 
hand,  her  head  being  crowned  with  roses.  Some- 
times her  picture  has  a  silver  looking-glass  in  one 
hand,  and  on  the  feet  are  golden  sandals  and  buc- 
kles. In  the  pictures  of  the  Sic^'onians,  she  holds 
a  poppy  in  one  hand,  and  an  apple  in  the  other. 
At  Elis  she  was  painted  treading  on  a  tortoise; 
showing  thereby  that  3'oung  women  ought  not  to 
ramble  abroad  ;  and  that  married  women  ought  to 
keep  silence,  love  their  home,  and  govern  their  fa- 
mily. She  wore  a  girdle  or  belt,  called  Cestus ; 
m  which  all  kinds  of  pleasures  were  folded,  and 
which  was  supposed  to  excite  irresistible  aflection. 
Some  give  her  arrows ;  and  make  Python  Suada, 
the  goddess  of  eloquence,  her  companion. 

We  learn  from  several  authors,  that  there  were 
four  Venuses,  born  of  different  parents,  but  this  Ve- 
nus of  whom  we  speedv  was  the  most  eminent,  and 
had  the  beauties  as  well  as  the  disgraces  of  the 
others  commonly  ascribed  to  her.  She  sprang  from 
tlie  froth  of  the  sea.  She  was  by  the  Greeks  called 
Aphrodite,  ex  a(p^oc,  sjjuma.  As  soon  as  she  was 
born,  she  was  laid,  like  a  pearl,  in  a  shell  instead  of 


101 

a  cradle  ;  and  was  driven,  by  Zephyrus  upon  the 
island  Cythera,  \Aliere  the  Horte,  or  hours,  re- 
ceived, educated,  accomplished,  and  adorned  her ; 
and,  when  she  came  of  age,  carried  her  into  heaven, 
and  presented  her  to  the  gods,  all  of  whom,  being 
taken  with  her  beauty,  desired  to  marry  her :  but 
she  was  at  lengtli  betrothed  to  Vulcan,  and  married 
to  him. 

qUESTIOJ^S  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

How  is  Venus  described  ? 

By  wliom  is  she  attended  ? 

How  is  her  chariot  drawn  ? 

What  different  descrijitions  are  given  of  her  ? 

What  may  be  inferred  from  the  worship  paid  to  Venus  ? 

How  is  she  painted  ? 

How  is  she  painted  at  Elis,  and  what  does  that  denote  ? 

What  was  she  called  by  the  Greeks  ? 

What  happened  to  her  as  soon  as  she  was  born  ? 

By  whom  was  she  educated,  and  who  did  she  marry? 

SEC.  2— NAMES  OF  VENUS. 

She  is  called  Venus,  say^  Cicero,  because  all- 
things  are  subject  to  the  laws  of  love.  Or  else,  as 
others  say,  her  name  is  given  her  because  she  is  emi- 
nently beautiful ;  for  she  is  the  goddess  of  beauty. 
Or  lastly,  she  is  so  called,  because  she  was  a  stran- 
ger or  foreigner  to  the  Romans ;  for  she  was  first  wor- 
shipped by  the  Egyptians,  and  from  the  Egyptians 
she  was  translated  to  the  Greeks,  and  from  them  to 
the  Romans.  Let  us  now  proceed  to  her  other 
names. 

Amica,  'Eraipx  ^Hetaira]  was  a  name  given  her 
by  the  Athenians  ;  because  she  joins  lovers  together ; 
and  this  Greek  word  is  used  both  in  good  and  bad 
senses. 

Armata,  because  when  the  Spartan  w^omen  sallied 
out  of  their  tow  n,  besieged  by  the  Messenians,  and 
beat  them,  a  temple  was  dedicated  to  Venus  Ai- 
mata. 

9* 


102 

Apaturia,  that  is  "  the  deceiver,"  for  nothhig  is 
more  deceitful  than  love,  which  flatters  our  eyes  and 
pleases  us,  like  roses  in  their  finest  colours,  but  at 
the  same  time  kaves  a  thorn  in  the  heart. 

She  was  called  by  the  Romans  Barbata  ;  because, 
when  the  Roman  women  were  so  troubled  with  a 
disease  that  caused  their  hair  to  fall  off,  they  pray- 
ed to  Venus,  and  their  hair  grew  again;  upon 
which  they  made  an  image  of  Venws  with  a  comb, 
and  gave  it  a  beard,  that  she  might  have  the  signs  of 
both  sexes. 

Cypris,  Cypria,  and  Cyprogenia,  because  she 
was  worshipped  in  the  island  of  Cyprus :  Cytheris 
and  Cytherea  ;  from  the  island  of  Cythera,  whither 
she  was  first  carried  in  a  sea-shell. 

There  was  a  temple  at  Rcme  dedicated  to  Venus 
Calva  ;  because  when  the  Gauls  possessed  that  city, 
ropes  for  the  engines  were  made  with  the  women's  hair. 

Erycina,  from  the  mountain  Eryx  in  the  island  of 
Sicily  ;  upon  which  jEneas  built  a  splendid  and  fa- 
mous temple  to  her  honour,  because  she  was  his  mo- 
tlier. 

Horace  makes  mention  of  her  under  this  name. 

She  is  properly  called  Ridens,  and  Homer  calls 
her  a  lover  of  laughing :  for  she  is  said  to  be  born 
laughing,  and  thence  called  the  *'  goddess  of  mirth." 

Hortensi'S,  because  she  looks  after  the  production 
of  seed  and  plants  in  gardens.  And  Festus  tells  us, 
that  the  word  Venus  is  by  Naevius  put  for  herbs,  as 
Ceres  is  for  bread,  and  Neptunus  for  fish. 

Idalia  and  Acidalia  from  the  mountain  Idalus, 
in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  and  the  fountain  Acidalius, 
in  Boeotia. 

Marina,  because  she  was  born  of  the  sea,  to  which 
Ausonius  refers  in  his  poem. 

"Orta  salo,  suscepta  solo,  patre  edida  Ccelo." 
Heav'n  gave  her  life,  the  sea  a  cradle  gave, 
And  earth's  wide  regions  her  with  joy  receive. 


103 

She  is  called  Aphroditus  and  Anadyomne,  that  is, 
emerging  out  of  tlie  waters,  as  Apelles  painted  her ; 
and  Pontia,  from  Pontus.  Hence  came  the  custom, 
that  those  who  had  escaped  any  danger  by  water, 
used  to  sacrifice  to  Venus.  Hence  also  the  mari- 
ners observed  those  solemnities  called  Aphrodisia, 
which  Plutarch  describes  in  a  treatise  against  Epi- 
curus. 

Melanis,  or  MelEenis,  that  is  dark  and  concealed  ; 
whence  the  Egyptians  worshipped  a  Venus,  called 
Scoteia,  a  goddess  to  be  admired  in  the  night. 

Migonitis  signifies  her  power  in  the  management 
of  love.  Therefore,  Paris  dedicated  the  first  temple 
to  Venus  Migonitis. 

Paphia,  from  the  city  Paphos  in  the  island  of  Cy- 
prus, where  they  sacrificed  flowers  and  frankincense 
CO  her.     And  this  is  mentioned  by  Virgil : 

"  Ipsa  paphum  sublimis  adit,  sedesque  revisit 

Lajta  suas,  ubi  templum  illi,  centumque  Sabaeo 

Thure  calent  arse,  sertisque  recentibus  halant." — ,®n.  1. 

This  part  perform'd,  the  goddess  flies  sublime 
To  visit  Paphos  and  her  native  clime  ; 
"Where  garlands,  ever  green  and  ever  fair. 
With  vows  are  otter'd,  and  with  solemn  pray'r: 
A  hundred  altais  in  her  temple  smoke, 
A  thousand  bleeding  hearts  her  pow'r  invoke. 

Her  name  Verticordia,  signifies  the  power  of  love 
to  change  hearts,  and  to  ease  the  minds  of  men  from 
all  cares  that  perplex  them.  Ovid  mentions  this 
power,  and  for  the  same  reason  Venus  is  called  in 
the  Greek  Epistrophia. 

qUESTlO.XS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

"Why  is  she  called  Amica  and  Armata? 

Why  was  she  called  Apaturia  and  Barbata  ? 

Why  was  she  denominated  Cypris  and  Cytheris  ? 

Why  was  a  temple  dedicated  to  Venus  Calva  at  Rome? 

Why  was  she  called  Erycina  and  Ridens  ? 

Why  was  she  denominated  Hortensis  Idalia?  and  Acidalia? 


104 

How  did  she  derive  her  names  Marina  and  Aphroditis 
Why  is  slie  called  iNIelienie-,  and  why  Migonitis? 
Why  is  she  called  Faphia  and  Verticordia  ? 


SEC.  3.— ACTIONS  OF  VENUS. 

Pygmalion,  a  statuary,  considering  the  great  in 
conveniences  of  marrying,  had  resolved  to  live  sin 
gle ;  bnt  afterward  making  a  most  elegant  and  arti« 
ficial  image  of  Venus,  he  fell  so  much  in  love  with 
his  ow  n  workmanship  that  he  begged  Venus  to  turn 
it  into  a  w^oman,  and  enliven  the  ivory.  His  wish- 
es were  granted,  and  of  her  he  had  Paphos,  from 
whom  the  island  Paphos  had  its  name.  Ovid 
Met.  10. 

Pyramus  and  Thisbe  were  both  inhabitants  of  the 
city  of  Babylon ;  equal  in  beauty,  age,  condition, 
and  fortune.  They  began  to  love  each  other  from 
their  cradles.  Their  houses  were  contiguous,  so 
that  their  love  arose  from  their  neighbourhood,  grew 
greater  by  their  mutual  play,  and  was  perfected  by 
their  singular  beauty.  This  love  increased  with 
their  years,  and  in  due  time,  they  begged  their  pa- 
rents' consent ;  which  was  refused,  because  of  some 
former  quarrels  between  the  two  families.  And  that 
the  children  might  not  attempt  any  thing  against 
their  parents'  will,  they  were  not  permitted  to  see 
each  other.  There  was  a  partition-wall  between 
both  houses,  in  which  wall  there  was  a  small  chink, 
never  discovered  by  any  of  the  servants.  This  cre- 
vice the  lovers  found,  and  met  here :  their  words 
and  their  sighs  went  through,  but  kisses  could  not 
pass ;  which,  when  they  parted,  they  printed  on 
each  side  of  the  wall.  By  some  contrivance  they 
met  and  agreed  upon  an  interview  under  the  shade 
of  a  large  mulberry  tree,  which  stood  near  a  foun- 
tain. When  night  came  on,  Thisbe  deceived  her 
keepers,  and  escapes  first,  and  flies  into  the  wood  ^ 
for  love  gave  her  wings.     When  she  got  to  the  ap 


105 

pointed  place,  a  lioness  fresh  from  the  slaughter  of 
6ome  cattle,  came  to  drink  at  the  fountain.  Thisbe 
was  so  frightened  that  she  ran  into  a  cave,  and  in  her 
flight  her  veil  fell  from  her  head  ;  the  lioness  return- 
ing from  the  fountain,  found  the  veil,  and  tore  it  with 
her  jaws  besmeared  with  blood.  Pyramus  comes 
next,  and  sees  the  print  of  a  wild  beast's  foot,  and 
finds  the  veil  of  Thisbe  bloody  and  torn.  He,  ima- 
gining that  she  was  killed  and  devoured  by  the  wild 
beast,  grew  distracted,  and  hastened  to  the  ap- 
pointed tree  ;  but  not  finding  Thisbe,  he  threw  him- 
self upon  his  sword,  and  died.  Thisbe  in  the  mean 
time,  recovered  from  her  fright,  came  to  the  mul- 
berry tree,  where  she  saw  Pyramus  in  the  struggles 
of  death  :  she  embraced  her  dying  lover,  mingled 
her  tears  with  his  blood,  and  folding  her  arms  about 
him,  called  upon  him  to  answer  her,  but  he  was 
speechless,  and  looking  up  expired.  Thisbe,  dis- 
tracted with  grief,  tore  her  cheeks,  beat  her  breast, 
rent  her  hair,  and  sbed  a  deluge  of  tears  upon  his 
cold  face  ;  nor  did  she  cease  to  mourn,  till  she  per- 
ceived her  veil,  bloody  and  torn,  in  Pyramus'  hand 
She  then  understood  the  occasion  of  his  death,  and 
drew  the  sword  from  the  body  of  her  lover,  plunged 
it  into  her  own,  and  falling  accidentally  on  him, 
gave  him  a  cold  kiss,  and  breathed  her  last  breath 
mto  his  bosom.  The  tree,  warmed  with  the  blood 
of  the  slain  lovers,  became  sensible  of  their  misfor- 
tune, and  mourned.  Its  berries,  which  were  before 
white,  became  red  with  grief,  and  blushed  for  the 
death  of  Pyramus  ;  when  Thisbe  also  died,  the  ber- 
ries then  became  black  and  dark,  as  if  they  had  put 
on  mourning.     Such  were  the  fatal  eifects  of  love. 

In  the  next  place  hear  the  story  of  Atalanta  and 
Hippomenes.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  king 
Schseneus,  or  Oseneus.  It  was  doubted  whether  her 
beauty  or  swiftness  in  running  were  greater.  When 
she  consulted  the  oracle,  whether  she  should  marry 


106 

or  not,  this  answer  was  given,  "That  maniagiR 
would  be  iatal  to  her."  Upon  \\  hich  the  virgin  hid 
herself  in  the  woods,  and  lived  in  places  remote 
from  the  conversation  of  men.  But  the  more  she 
avoided  them,  the  more  eagerly  they  courted  her ; 
for  her  disdain  inflamed  their  desires,  and  her  pride 
raised  their  adoration.  At  last,  when  she  saw  she 
could  not  otherwise  deliver  herself  from  the  impor- 
tunity of  her  lovers,  she  made  this  agreement  with 
them :  "  You  court  me  in  vain ;  he  who  overtakes 
me  in  running  shall  be  my  husband ;  but  they  who 
are  beaten  by  me  shall  suffer  death ;  I  will  be  the 
victor's  prize,  but  the  vanquished's  punishment.  If 
these  terms  please,  go  with  me  into  the  field."  They 
all  agreed  to  these  conditions : 

"  Venit  ad  banc  legem  temeraria  turba  procorum." 

Ov.  Met.  la 
All  her  mad  wooers  take  the  terms  propos'd. 

They  strove  to  outrun  her ;  but  they  were  all 
beaten  and  put  to  death  according  to  the  agree- 
ment ;  suffering  the  loss  of  their  lives  for  the  fault 
of  their  feet.  Yet  the  example  of  these  lovers  did 
not  deter  Hippomenes  from  undertaking  the  race, 
who  entertained  hopes  of  winning  the  victory,  be- 
cause Venus  had  given  him  three  golden  apples, 
gathered  in  the  gardens  of  the  Hesperides,  and  also 
told  him  how  to  use  them.  Hippomenes  briskly 
set  out  and  began  the  race ;  and  when  he  saw  that 
Atalanta  overtook  him,  he  threw  down  a  golden  ap- 
ple ;  the  beauty  of  it  enticed  her  so  that  she  went 
out  of  her  way,  followed  the  apple,  and  took  it  up. 

"  Declinat  cursus,  aurumque  volubile  tollit." 

She,  greedy  of  the  shining  fruit,  steps  back 
To  catch  the  rolling  gold. 

Afterward  he  threw  down  another,  which  she 
pursued  also  to  obtain ;  and  again  a  third ;  so  tliat 


107 

while  Atalanta  was  busied  in  gathering  them  up 
Hippomenes  reached  the  goal,  and  took  the  lady  as 
the  prize  of  his  victory.  But  forgetful  of  the  grati- 
tude and  respect  due  to  Venus,  he  met  with  a  si«gnal 
punishment.  Himself  and  Atalanta  were  turned 
into  a  lion  and  lioness. 

Another  proof  of  the  fatal  effects  of  love  is  the 
case  of  Paris  and  Helena.  Paris  was  the  son  of 
Priamus,  king  of  Troy,  by  Hecuba.  His  mother, 
when  she  was  pregnant,  dreamed  that  she  brought 
forth  a  burning  torch  :  and  asking  the  oracle  for  an 
interpretation,  was  answered,  "  That  it  portended 
the  burning  of  Troy,"  and  tliat  the  fire  should  be 
kindled  by  her  son.  Therefore,  as  soon  as  the  child 
was  born,  he  was  exposed  upon  the  mountain  Ida : 
where  the  shepherds  brought  him  up  privately,  edu- 
cated him,  and  called  him  Paris.  When  he  was 
grown  to  man's  estate,  he  gave  such  tokens  of  singu- 
lar prudence  and  equity  in  deciding  controversies, 
that  on  a  great  difference  which  arose  among  the 
goddesses,  they  referred  it  to  his  judgment  to  be  de- 
termined. The  goddess  ^Discordia  was  the  occa- 
sion of  this  contention  :  for,  because  all  the  gods 
and  goddesses,  except  herself,  were  invited  to  the 
marriage  of  Peleus,  she  was  angry,  and  resolved  to 
revenge  the  disgrace ;  therefore,  when  they  all  met 
and  set  down  at  the  table,  she  came  in  privately, 
and  threw  down  upon  the  table  an  apple  of  gold,  on 
which  was  this  inscription,  "  Let  the  fairest  take 
it."  Hence  arose  a  quarrel  among  the  goddesses 
for  every  one  thought  herself  the  most  beautifuL 
But  at  last,  all  the  others  yielded  to  the  three  supe- 
rior goddesses,  Junoj  Pallas,  and  Venus ;  who  dis- 
puted so  eagerly,  that  Jupiter  himself  was  not  able 
to  bring  them  to  agreement.  He  resolved  therefore 
to  leave  the  final  determination  of  it  to  the  judgment 

•  Dion.  Chrysost.  Orat.  20.     Philostrat.  in  Icon. 
t  Pulchrior  accipiat,  vel,  Detur  pulchriori. 


108 

of  Paris  ;  so  that  she  should  have  tho  p.pple  to  whom 
Paris  sliould  adjudge  it.  The  goddesses  consent, 
and  call  for  Paris,  who  was  then  feeding  siieep 
upon  a  mountain.  They  tell  him  their  business, 
and  court  his  lavour  with  great  promises :  Juno 
promised  to  reward  him  witli  power,  Pallas  with 
wisdom,  and  Venus  promised  him  the  most  beautiful 
woman  in  the  world.  He  pronounted  Venu?  the 
fairest,  and  assigned  to  her  the  apple  uf  gold.  Ve- 
nus did  not  break  her  promise  to  Paris ;  for  in  a 
little  time  Paris  was  owned  to  be  king  Priam's  son, 
and  sailed  into  Greece  with  a  great  fleet,  under  the 
colour  of  an  embassy,  to  fetch  away  Helena,  the 
most  beautiful  woman  in  the  world,  who  was  be- 
trothed to  Menelaus,  king  of  Sparta,  and  lived  in  his 
house.  When  he  came,  Menelaus  was  from  home, 
and,  in  his  absence,  Paris  carried  away  Helena  to 
Troy.  Menelaus  demanded  her,  but  Paris  refused 
to  send  her  back  ;  and  this  occasioned  that  fatal  war 
between  the  Greeks  and  Trojans,  in  which  Troy, 
the  metropolis  of  all  Asia,  v/as  taken  and  burnt,  in 
the  year  of  the  world  2871.  There  were  killed 
eight  hundred  sixty-eight  thousand  of  the  Grecians  ; 
among  whom  Achilles,  one  of  their  generals,  lost  his 
life  by  the  treachery  of  Paris  himself. 

There  were  slain  six  hundred  and  seventy-sii 
thousand  of  the  Trojans,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war  to  the  taking  of  the  city,  among  whom  Paris 
himself  was  killed  by  P3  rrhus  or  Philoctetes ;  and 
his  brother  Hector,  the  pillar  of  his  country,  was 
killed  by  Achilles.  When  the  city  was  taken  and 
burnt,  king  Priamus,  the  father  of  Paris  and  Hector, 
at  once  lost  all  his  children,  his  queen  Hecuba,  his 
kingdom  and  his  life.  Helena,  after  Paris  was  kill- 
ed, married  his  brother  Deiphobus  :  yet  she  at  length 
betrayed  the  castle  to  the  Grecians,  and  admitted 
Menelaus  into  her  chamber  to  kill  Deiphobus :  by 
which,  it  is  said,  she  was  reconciled  to  the  favour  of 


109 

Menelaiis   again.     These  things,  however,    belong 
rather  to  history  than  to  fable. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAML\ATIOK. 

What  happened  to  Pygmalion  ? 

Can  you  give  in  short  the  story  of  Pyramus  and  Thisbe  ? 

Give  the  story  of  Atalanta  and  Hippomenes. 

Give  an  abridged  account  of  the  fates  of  Paris  and  Helena. 

SEC  4.— THE  COMPANIONS  OF  VENUS ;  VIZ.  HYME- 
NJ=:US,  THE  CUPIDS,  THE  GRACES,  ADONIS. 

The  first  of  Venus'  companions  was  the  god  Hy- 
menseus.  He  presided  over  marriage,  and  was  the 
protector  of  yomig  miraarried  women.  He  was  the 
son  of  Bacchus  and  Venus  Urania,  born  in  Attica, 
where  he  used  to  rescue  virgins  carried  away  by 
thieves,  and  restore  them  to  their  parents.  He  was 
of  a  very  fair  complexion ;  crowned  with  the  ama- 
racus  or  sweet  marjoram,  and  sometimes  with  roses  ; 
in  one  hand  he  carried  a  torch,  in  the  other  a  veil 
of  flame  colour,  to  represent  the  blushes  of  a  virgin. 
Newly  married  women  offered  sacrifices  to  him,  as 
they  did  also  to  the  goddess  Concordia. 

Cupid  was  the  next  of  Venus'  companions.  He 
is  called  the  god  of  love,  and  many  different  parents 
are  ascribed  to  him,  because  there  were  many 
Cupids.  Plato  says  he  was  born  of  Penia,  the 
goddess  of  poverty,  by  Poros,  the  son  of  Coun- 
sel and  Plenty.  Hesiod  relates,  that  he  was  born  of 
Chaos  and  Terra.  Sappho  derives  him  from  Ve- 
nus and  Coelum.  Alcseus  says  he  was  the  son  of 
Lite  and  Zephyrus.  Simonides  attributes  hira  to 
Mars  and  Venus ;  and  Alcmeeon,  to  Zephyrus  and 
Flora.  But  whatever  parents  Cupid  had,  this  is 
plain,  he  always  accompanies  Venus,  either  as  a  son 
or  a  servemt. 

The  poets  speak  of  two  Cupids.  One  of  which  Is 
an  ingenious  youth,  the  son  of  Venus  and  Jupiter,  a 
celestial  deity  ;  the  other  the  son  of  Erebus  and  Nox* 
10 


no 

\^Hell  and  Kight,']  a  vulgar  god,  whose  companions 
are  drunkenness,  sorrow,  enmity,  contention,  and 
such  kind  of  plagues.  One  of  these  Cupids  is  call- 
ed Eros,  and  the  other  Anteros ;  both  of  them  are 
boys,  and  naked,  and  winged,  and  blind,  and  armed 
with  a  bow  and  arrows  and  a  torch.  They  have 
two  darts  of  diflercnt  natures  ;  a  golden  dart  which 
procures  love,  and  a  leaden  dart  which  causes  ha- 
tred. Anteros  is  also  the  god  who  avenges  slight- 
ed love. 

Although  tliis  be  the  youngest  of  all  the  celestial 
gods,  yet  his  power  is  so  great,  that  he  is  esteemed 
the  strongest,  for  he  subdues  them  all.  Without 
his  assistance,  his  mother  Venus  is  weak,  and  can 
do  nothing,  as  she  herself  confesses  in  Virgil. 

"  Nate,  meae  vires,  mea  magna  potentia,  soIhs."     ^n.  4. 
Thou  art  my  strengtli,  0  son,  and  power  alone. 

He  is  naked  because  the  lover  has  nothing  of  his 
own,  but  deprives  himself  of  all  that  he  has,  for  his 
mistress'  sake. 

Cupid  is  a  boy,  because  he  is  void  of  judgment. 
His  chariot  is  drawn  by  lions,  for  the  rage  and 
fierceness  of  no  creature  is  greater  than  the  extrava- 
gance and  madness  of  violent  love.  He  is  blind, 
because  a  lover  does  not  see  the  faults  of  his  beloved 
object,  nor  consider  in  his  mind  the  mischief  pro- 
ceeding from  that  passion.  He  is  winged,  because 
nothing  flies  swifter  than  love,  for  he  who  loves  to- 
day, may  hate  to-morrow.  Lastly,  he  is  armed 
with  arrows,  because  he  strikes  afar  off. 

The  Graces  called  *Charites,  were  three  sisters, 
the  daughters  of  Jupiter  and  Eurynome,  or  Euno- 
mia,  as  Orpheus  says,  or  rather,  as  others  say,  the 
daughter  of  Bacchus  and  Venus.     The  first  was 

•  Xapirts  dictaj  u^o  Ttis  2\ctf:u4  i.  e.  a  gaudio. 


Ill 

called  *Aglaiaj  from  her  cheerfulness,  her  beauty,  or 
her  worth  ;  because  kindness  ought  to  be  perform- 
ed freely  and  generously.  The  second,  f Thalia, 
from  her  perpetual  verdure  ;  because  kindness  ought 
never  to  die,  but  to  remain  fresh  always  in  the  re- 
ceiver's memory.  The  third,  JEuphrosyne,  from 
her  cheerfulness ;  because  we  ought  to  be  free  and 
cheerful,  as  well  in  doing  as  in  receiving  a  kindness. 

These  sisters  were  painted  naked,  or  in  transpa- 
rent and  loose  garments,  young  and  merry,  with 
hands  joined.  One  was  turned  from  the  behslder, 
as  if  she  was  going  from  him  ;  the  other  two  turned 
their  faces,  as  if  they  were  coming  to  him  ;  by  which 
we  miderstand,  that  when  one  kindness  is  done,  thanks 
ai*e  twice  due;  once  when  rectived,  and  again  when  it 
is  repaid.  The  Graces  are  naked,  because  kindnesses 
ought  to  be  done  in  sincerity  and  candour,  and  with- 
out disguise.  They  are  young,  because  the  memo- 
ry of  kindness  received  ouglit  never  to  grow  old. 
They  are  virgins,  because  kindness  ought  to  be  pure, 
without  expectation  of  requital.  Their  hands  are 
joined,  because  one  good  turn  requires  another; 
there  ought  to  be  a  perpetual  intercourse  of  kind- 
ness and  assistance  anioiij^  friends. 

Adonis  was  tlie  son  of  Cinyras,  king  of  Cyprus, 
and  Myrrhac  As  he  was  very  handsome,  Venus 
took  great  delight  m  liim,  and  loved  his  company. 
When  he  hunted,  a  boar  gored  him  with  his  tusks, 
and  killed  him.  Venus  bewailed  his  death  with 
much  sorrow  and  concern,  and  changed  his  blood, 
which  was  shed  on  the  ground,  into  the  flower  ane- 
mone, which  ever  since  has  retahied  the  colour  of 
blood.  While  she  flew  to  assist  him,  being  led  by 
his  dying  voice,  a  thorn  ran  into  her  foot,  and  the 

*  AyXalec  id  est,  splendor,  honestas,  vel  dignitas. 
t   BaXala.   (nam  SaXs/a  est  MusEe  nomeii)   id  est,  veridilas  et 
cinnitas  a  ^ccWu  vireo. 
X  "Eviffoffwriy  id  est,  iKtitia  et  urbanitas.     Vide  Hcsiod,  in  Theog. 


112 

blood  that  came  thence  fell  on  the  rose,  which  be- 
fore was  white,  but  thereby  made  red. 

Venus  besought  of,  and  obtained  from  Jupiter, 
that  he  should  return  to  life  for  six  months  in  every 
year ;  so  that  Adonis  revives  and  dies  in  incessant 
succession.  In  Greece,  Phoenicia,  and  some  other 
countries,  festivals  were  appointed  expressive  of  this 
circumstance  :  the  solemnity  continued  several  days; 
the  first  part  being  spent  in  lamentations  for  his 
loss,  and  the  second  in  joy  for  his  restoration. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMmATION. 

Who  wa3  Hymenaeus,  and  of  whom  was  he  the  protector? 

Whose  son  was  he,  and  how  was  he  represented  ? 

Who  was  Cupid,  and  whose  son  was  he  said  to  be  ? 

How  many  Cupids  do  the  poets  describe,  and  how  are  they 
represented  ? 

What  is  his  character  with  regard  to  power  ? 

Why  is  he  represented  naked  ? 

How  is  his  chariot  drawn  ? 

Why  is  he  represented  blind,  winged,  and  armed  with  arrows  ? 

Who  were  the  Graces,  and  what  were  their  names  ? 

How  are  they  represented  in  paintings  ? 

Why  are  they  said  to  be  ever  young,  naked,  and  with  their 
hands  joined  ? 

Who  was  Adonis ''  what  was  the  cause  and  consequences  of 
his  death  ? 


CHAPTER  X 

LATONA. 

Latona  was  the  daughter  of  Phoebe,  by  Caeus 
the  Titan.  So  great  was  her  beauty,  that  Jupiter 
fell  in  love  with  her,  which  excited  the  jealousy  of 
Jmio,  who  caused  her  to  be  cast  out  of  heaven  to  the 
earth ;  not  contented  with  this,  she  obliged  Terra, 
by  an  oath,  not  to  give  her  a  habitation,  and  be- 
sides she  set  the  serpent  Python  upon  her,  to  per-*- 


113 

secute  her  wherever  she  went.  Juno,  however,  was 
disappomted,  for  the  island  Delos  received  Latona, 
where,  under  a  pahn  or  an  oUve  tree,  she  bi'ought 
forth  Diana ;  who,  as  soon  as  she  was  born,  nursed 
and  took  care  of  her  brother  Apollo. 

Her  reception  at  Delos,  notwithstanding  the  oath 
of  Terra,  is  thus  accounted  for.  This  island  for- 
merly floated  in  the  sea,  and  they  say  that  at  the 
time  it  was  hidden  under  the  waters,  when  Terra 
took  her  oath,  but  that  it  emerged  afterwards  by  the 
order  of  Neptune,  and  became  fixed  and  immovea- 
ble for  Latona's  use,  from  which  time  it  was  called 
Delos,  because  it  was  visible  hke  other  places. 

The  island  Delos  emerged  for  Latona's  use,  be- 
cause it  was  sister  to  Latona.  Some  say,  that  her 
name  was  formerly  Asteria,  whom  Jupiter  loved  and 
<:ourted,  but  she  was  converted  into  an  island  :  others 
report  that  she  was  converted  into  a  quail,  (Ovid 
Met.  15,j  and  flew  into  this  island,  which  was, 
tlierefore,  among  other  names,  called  Ortygia..  Ni- 
che's pride,  and  the  barbarity  of  the  countrymen  of 
Lycia,  increase  the  fame  of  this  goddess. 

Niobe  was  the  daughter  of  Tantalus,  and  the  wife 
of  Amphion,  king  of  Thebes.  She  was  so  enriched 
with  all  the  gifts  of  nature  and  fortune,  and  her  hap- 
piness so  great,  that  she  could  not  bear  it :  being 
pufled  up  with  pride,  and  full  of  self-conceit,  she  be- 
gan to  despise  Latona,  and  to  esteem  herself  the 
greater,  saying  :  "  is  any  happiness  to  be  compared 
to  mine,  who  am  out  of  the  reach  of  fortune  ^  She 
may  rob  me  of  much  wealth,  but  she  cannot  injure 
me,  since  she  must  leave  me  still  very  rich.  Does  any 
one's  wealth  exceed  mine  f  Is  any  one's  beauty  like 
mine  ?  Have  I  not  seven  most  beautiful  daughters, 
and  as  many  ingenious  and  handsome  sons  f  And 
have  I  not,  therefore,  reason  to  be  proud .'"'  In 
tliis  manner  she  boasted  of  her  happine-ss,  and  de- 
spised others  :  but  her  pride,  in  a  short  time,  depri- 
10* 


114 

ved  her  of  all  the  happiness  which  she  possessed, 
and  reduced  her  iVom  the  height  of  good  fortune  to 
the  lowest  degree  of  misery.  For  when  Latona  saw 
herself  despised,  and  her  sacrifices  disturbed  by  Nio- 
be,  she  appointed  Apollo  and  Diana  to  punish  the 
injury  that  was  offered  to  their  mother.  Immediate- 
ly they  went  with  their  quivers  well  filled  with  arrows, 
to  Niobe's  house ;  where  first  they  killed  the  sons, 
then  the  daughters,  and  next  the  father,  in  the  sight 
of  Niobe,  who  by  that  means  was  stupified  with 
grief,  till  at  length  she  was  turned  into  marble, 
which,  because  of  this  misfortune,  is  said  to  shed  ma- 
ny tears  to  this  day. — Ovid  Met.  6. 

The  rustics  of  the  country  of  Lycia  in  Asia,  did 
also  experience  the  anger  of  Latona  to  their  ruin ; 
for  when  she  wandered  in  the  fields,  the  heat  of  the 
weather  and  toil  of  her  journey  brought  such  a 
drought  upon  her  that  she  almost  fainted  for  thirst. 
At  last  discovering  a  sprhig  in  the  bottom  of  the  val- 
ley, slie  ran  to  it  witli  great  joy,  and  fell  on  her  knees 
to  drink  the  cool  waters  : 


Gelidos  potura  liquores.' 


To  quench  her  thirst  with  the  refreshing  stream. 

But  the  neighbouring  clowns  hindered  her,  and 
bid  her  depart.  She  earnestly  begged  leave,  and 
they  denied  it :  she  did  not  desire  she  said  to  injure 
the  stream  by  washing  herself  in  it,  but  only  to 
quench  her  thirst. 

"Quid  prohibetis  aquas?  usus  communis  aquanim: 

IVec  solem  proprium  natura,  nee  aera  fecit,  ' 

iS'ec  tenues  undas.     Ad  publica  munera  veni. 

Quae  tamen  ut  detis  supplex  peto.     Non  ego  nostroa 

Abluere  hie  artiis,  lassataque  membra  parabam  : 

Sed  relevare  siiim.     Caret  os  humore  loquentis, 

Et  fauces  arent,  vlxque  est  via  vocis  in  illis. 

Haiistus  aqua;  niihi  nectar  erit:  vitamque  fatebor 

Accepisse  siraul." 


G¥   THE 


[UNITEESITT 


115 

-Why  hinder  you,  said  she, 


The  use  of  water  that  to  all  is  free 

The  sun,  the  air,  the  pure  and  cooling  wave, 

Nature  made  free.     I  claim  the  boon  she  gave  :  ^ 

Yet  humbly  I  entreat  it,  not  to  drench 

My  weary  limbs,  but  killing  thirst  to  quench. 

My  tons;ue  wants  moisture,  and  my  jaws  are  dry, 

Scarce  is  there  way  for  speech.     For  drink  I  die, 

Water  to  me  were  nectar.     If  I  live, 

'Tis  by  your  favour. 

They  regarded  not  her  entreaties,  but  with  threats 
endeavoured  to  drive  her  away.  This  great  inhu- 
manity moved  the  indignation  of  Latona,  who  cursed 
them,  and  said,  "  jMay  you  always  hve  in  this  wa- 
ter." Immediately  they  were  turned  into  frogs,  and 
leaped  into  the  muddy  water,  where  they  ever  after 
lived. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMTKATIOK. 

Who  was  Latona,  and  what  was  the  consequence  of  Jupiter's 
affection  to  her  ? 

Where  was  Diana  born,  and  how  was  she  employed  immedi* 
ately  after  her  birth  .-* 

How  is  Latona's  reception  at  Delos  accounted  for.? 

What  is  said  of  her  transmigrations  into  an  island  and  quail } 

Who  was  Niobe,  and  what  is  said  of  her  pride  and  self-sufli- 
ciency  ? 

What  was  Latona's  conduct  towards  Niobe .' 

Into  what  was  Niobe  changed  .' 

What  happened  to  the  rustics  of  Lycia,  and  why  were  they  sd 
punished  ? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

AURORA. 

•Aurora,  the  daughter  of  Terra  and  Titan,  the 
sister  of  the  sun  and  moon,  and  mother  of  the  stars 
and  the  winds,  is  a  goddess  drawn  in  a  chariot  of 
gold  by  white  horses ;  her  countenance  shines  like 
gold  5  her  fingers  are  red  like  roses  :  so  Homer  de- 


116 

scribes  Aurora.  The  Greeks  call  Aurora  by  another 
name,  and  some  say  that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Hyperion  and  Thia,  or  of  Pallas,  from  whom  the 
poets  also  call  her  Pallantias.  She  by  force  carried 
two  beautiful  young  men,  Cephalus  and  Tithonus, 
into  heaven. 

Cephalus  married  Procris,  the  daughter  of  the 
king  of  Athens.  When  Aurora  could,  by  no  per- 
suasion, move  him  to  leave  her,  she  carried  him  into 
heaven  ;  but  even  there  she  could  not  shake  his  con- 
stancy ;  therefore  she  sent  him  again  to  his  wife 
Procris,  disguised  in  the  habit  of  a  merchant.  Af- 
ter this  she  gave  him  an  arrow  that  never  missed  the 
mark,  which  she  had  received  from  Minoe.  When 
Cephalus  had  this  arrow,  he  spent  his  whole  time  in 
hunting  and  pursuing  wild  beasts.  Procris,  sus- 
pecting the  constancy  of  her  husband,  concealed 
herself  in  a  bush,  to  discover  the  truth  :  but  when 
she  moved  carelessly  in  the  bush,  her  husband  think- 
ing some  wild  beast  was  there,  drew  his  bow,  and 
shot  his  wife  to  the  heart. — Ovid  Met.  7. 

Tithonus  was  the  son  of  Laomedon,  and  brother 
of  Priamus  :  Aurora,  for  his  singular  beauty,  carri- 
ed him  up  to  heaven,  and  married  him  ;  and,  instead 
of  portion,  obtained  from  the  Fates  immortality  for 
him.  She  had  Memnon  by  him,  but  she  forgot  to 
ask  the  Fates  to  grant  him  perpetual  youth,  so  that 
he  became  so  old  and  decrepid,  that,  like  an  infant, 
he  was  rocked  to  sleep  in  a  cradle.  Hereupon  he 
grew  weary  of  life,  and  wishing  for  deatli,  asked 
Aurora  to  grant  him  power  to  die.  She  said,  that 
it  was  not  in  her  power  to  grant  it,  but  that  she 
would  do  what  she  could  :  and  therefore  turned  Jier 
husband  into  a  grasshopper,  which,  they  say,  moults 
when  it  is  old,  and  grows  young  again. — Ovid 
Met.  13. 

Memnon  went  to  Troy,  to  assist  the  king  Priam, 
where,  in  a  duel  with  Achilles,  he  was  killed  ;  and, 


117 

in  the  place  where  he  fell,  a  fountain  arose  which 
every  year,  on  the  same  day  on  which  he  died, 
sends  forth  blood  instead  of  water.  But  as  his  body 
lay  upon  the  funeral  pile  to  be  burnt,  it  was  changed 
mto  a  bird  by  his  mother  Aurora's  intercession  5  and 
many  other  birds  of  the  same  kind  flew  out  of  the 
pile  with  him,  which,  from  his  name,  were  called 
Aves  Memnonise  :  these,  dividing  themselves  into 
two  troops,  and  furiously  fighting  with  their  beaks 
and  claws,  with  their  own  blood  appeased  the  ghost 
of  Memnon,  from  whom  they  sprung. — Ovid 
Met.  13. 

There  was  a  statue  of  this  Memnon,  made  of 
black  marble,  and  set  up  in  the  temple  of  Serapis  at 
Thebes,  in  Egypt,  of  which  they  relate  an  incredi- 
ble story  :  for  it  is  said  that  the  mouth  of  the  statue, 
when  first  touched  by  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun, 
sent  forth  a  sweet  and  harmonious  sound  as  though 
it  rejoiced  when  its  mother  Aurora  came ;  but  at 
the  setting  of  the  sun,  it  spnt  forth  a  low  melancholy 
tone,  as  lamenting  her  departure. 

qUESTIOJYS  FOR  EXAMIKATION. 

Who  was  Aurora,  how  was  her  chariot  drawn,  and  how  is  she 
described  by  Homer  ? 

Who  did  she  carry  to  heaven  ? 

What  is  said  of  Cephalus,  and  what  became  of  his  wife  Pro- 
of is? 

Who  is  Tithon,  and  what  is  related  of  him  ? 

Into  what  was  he  changed,  and  why  ? 

What  became  of  Memnon,  and  what  is  said  to  have  happened 
where  he  was  killed  ? 

Into  what  was  his  dead  body  changed  ? 

Where  was  his  statue  erected,  and  what  is  reported  of  it  ? 


PART  11. 

OF  THE  TERRESTRIAL  DEITIES. 

CHAPTER  I. 

SEC.  L— SATURN.    HIS  IMAGE,  FAMILY,  AND  ACTfONS. 

Look  upon  the  wall  on  the  right  hand.  On  that 
wall,  which  is  the  second  part  of  the  Pantheon,  as 
well  as  of  our  discourse,  you  see  the  terrestrial  dei- 
ties divided  into  two  sorts  ;  for  some  of  them  inhabit 
both  the  cities  and  the  fif'lds  indiftprently,  nnd  are 
called  in  general  *'*  the  terrestrial  goddesses  :"  but 
the  others  live  only  in  the  countries  and  the  woods, 
and  are  properly  called  f"  the  gods  of  the  woods." 
We  will  begin  with  the  first. 

Of  the  terrestrial  gods,  which  are  so  called,  be- 
cause their  habitation  is  in  the  earth,  the  most  cele- 
brated are  Saturn,  Janus,  Vulcan,  iEolus,  and  Mo- 
mus.  The  terrestrial  goddesses  are  Vesta,  Cybele, 
Ceres,  the  Muses,  and  Themis  :  they  are  equal  in 
number  to  the  celestial  gods  and  goddesses. 

We  Mill  begin  with  the  eldest,  Saturn,  who  is  re- 
presented as  a  decrepid  Jold  man,  with  a  long  beard 
and  hoary  head.  His  shoulders  are  bowed  like  an 
arch,  his  jaws  hollow  and  thin,  his  cheeks  sunk; 
his  nose  is  flat,  his  forehead  full  of  furrows,  and  his 

•  Dli  terrestres  urbes  et  campos  promiscue  incolunt. 
t  Dii  autem  sylvestres  rure  tantum  et  in  sylvis  degunt 
t  Virg.  iEn.  7. 


119 

chin  turned  up  ;  his  right  hand  holds  a  rusty  scythe, 
and  his  left  a  child,  which  he  is  about  to  devour. 
He  is  the  son  of  Terra,  or  Vesta,  and  Ccelum, 
Coelus,  or  CccJius,  who  was  the  son  of  jEdier  and 
Dies,  and  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  gods.  This 
Coelum  married  his  own  daughter  Vesta,  by  whom 
he  had  many  children.  The  most  eminent  of  them 
was  Saturn,  whose  brothers  were  the  Cyclops,  Ocea- 
nus,  Titan,  the  hundred-handed  giants,  and  divers 
others ;  his  sisters  were  Ceres,  Tethys,  and  Ops,  or 
Rhea,  whom  he  afterwards  married.  The  sisters 
persuaded  their  mother  Vesta  to  exclude  Titan, 
or  Titanus,  the  eldest  son,  and  to  appoint  Saturn 
heir  of  his  father's  kingdom.  When  Titan  saw 
the  fixed  resolution  of  his  mother  and  sisters,  he 
would  not  strive  against  the  stream,  but  voluntarily 
quitted  his  right,  and  transferred  it  to  Saturn,  under 
condition  that  he  should  not  bring  up  any  male  chil- 
dren, so  that  after  Saturn's  death,  the  kingdom 
might  return  to  the  children  of  Titan. 

His  wife  Ops,  perceiving  that  her  husband  devour- 
ed all  her  male  children,  when  she  brought  forth  the 
twins,  Jupiter  and  Juno,  she  only  sent  Juno  to  hira, 
and  sent  Jupiter  to  be  nursed  in  Mount  Ida,  by  the 
priestesses  of  Cybele,  who  were  called  Curetes,  or 
Corybantes.  It  was  their  custom  to  beat  drums 
and  cymbals  while  the  sacrifices  were  ofiered  up, 
and  the  noise  of  them  hindered  Saturn  from  hearing 
the  cries  of  Jupiter.  By  the  same  trick  she  also 
saved  Neptune  and  Pluto  fi:om  her  devouring  hus- 
band. 

Titan,  when  he  saw  himself  cheated,  and  the 
agreement  broken,  to  revenge  the  injury,  raised  for- 
ces, and  brouglit  them  against  Saturn,  and  making 
both  him  and  Rhea  prisoners,  he  bound  them,  and 
shut  them  together  in  hell,  where  they  lay  till  .Jupi- 
ter, a  few  years  after,  overcame  the  Titans,  and  set 
his  father  and  mother  again  at  liberty.     After  this 


120 
Saturn  strove  to  take  away  his  life  ;  because  he 
heard  bj  an  oracle  that  he  should  be  driven  out  of 
his  kingdom  by  a  son,  as  in  reality  he  was  after- 
wards ;  for  Jupiter  deposed  him  from  the  throne, 
and  expelled  him  the  kingdom  ;  because  he  had  con- 
spired to  take  away  his  life.  Beside  this,  when  he 
found  Saturn  almost  drunk  with  mead,  he  bound 
and  maimed  him,  as  Saturn  had  also  maimed  his 
father  Coelum  before,  with  his  sickle. 

Saturn  having  thus  lost  his  kingdom  went  into 
Italy,  which  was  anciently  called  Saturnia.  He 
lived  there  with  king  Janus ;  and  that  part  of  Italy 
ill  which  he  lay  hidden,  was  afterwards  called  La- 
tium,  and  the  people  Latini ;  as  Ovid  observes  : 

"  Inde  diu  Genti  raansit  Saturnia  nomen: 

Dicta  fuil  Latium  terra,  latente  Deo."  Fast.  1. 

The  name  Saturnia  thence  this  land  did  bear, 
And  Latium  too,  because  ke  shelter'd  here. 

King  Janus  made  Saturn  partner  of  his  kingdom, 
upon  which  Saturn  reduced  the  people  to  civil  so- 
ciety, and  joined  them  to  each  other,  as  it  were,  in 
chains  of  brass,  that  is,  by  the  brass  money  which  he 
invented  ;  and  therefore,  on  one  side  of  the  money 
was  stamped  a  ship. 

"  At  bona  posteritas  pnpplm  signavit  in  aera, 
Hospitis  adventum  testiiicata  Dei."  Fast.  3. 

A  sh-ip  by  th'  following  age  was  stamp'd  on  coin, 
To  show  they  once  a  god  did  entertain. 

And  on  the  other  side  was  stamped  a  Janus  Bifrons. 
But  although  the  money  was  brass,  yet  this  was  the 
golden  age  in  which  Saturn  lived,  when,  as  the  poets, 
who  magnify  the  happiness  of  that  age,  would  per- 
suade us,  the  earth  without  the  labour  of  ploughing 
and  sowing  brought  forth  its  fruits,  and  all  things 
were  common  to  all,  Virgil  hath  given  an  elegant 
description  of  this  happy  age  in  the  eighth  book  of 
his  Mne'id : 


121 

"  Primus  ad  aethereo  venit  Saturnus  Olympo, 
Arma  Jovis  fugiens,  et  regnis  exul  ademptis. 
Is  genus  indocile,  ac  dispersum  montibus  altis 
Composuit,  legesque  dedit.     Latiumque  vocari 
Maluit,  liis  quoniam  latuisset  tutus  in  oris : 
Aurea,  quae  ut  perhibent,  illo  sub  rege  fuere 
SaBcula ;  sic  placida  populos  in  pace  regebat." 

Then  Saturn  came,  who  fled  the  pow'rs  of  Jove, 
Robb'd  of  his  realms,  and  banish'd  from  above. 
The  men  dispers'd  on  hills  to  tov^n  he  brought, 
The  laws  ordain'd,  and  civil  customs  taught, 
And  Latiura  call'd  the  land,  where  safe  he  lay 
From  his  unduteous  son,  and  his  usurping  sway. 
With  his  wild  empire,  peace  and  plenty  came  j 
And  hence  the  golden  times  derived  their  name. 

qUEST10^'S  FOR  EXAMIKATIOK. 

How  are  the  terrestrial  deities  divided,  and  why? 

Which  are  the  most  celebrated  of  the  celestial  deities? 

How  is  Saturn  described  ? 

Whose  son  was  he,  and  who  were  his  brothers  and  sisters? 

What  was  the  conduct  of  his  sisters  to  him  ? 

How  did  Titan  act,  ar.»d  for  what  did  he  stipulate  ? 

By  what  means  did  Jupiter  escape,  and  who  besides  were  sa 
ved  in  like  manner  ? 

Who  were  the  corybantes ;  and  what  was  their  custom  in  ofc 
faring  sacrifices  ? 

How  did  Titan  avenge  himself  upon  Saturn? 

Who  released  Saturn,  and  kow  did  he  requite  the  exertions  of 
Tupiter  in  his  behalf? 

How  did  Jupiter  act  afterwards? 

What  is  the  origin  of  the  name  Latini  ? 

Repeat  the  two  Latin  and  English  lines. 

What  did  he  perform  at  Latium  ? 

How  is  the  age  in  which  Saturn  flourished  describedby  thepoetrf 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Virgil — 

"  Primus  ad  sethereo  venit,"  &;c. 

SEC.  2.— NAMES  OF  SATURN.    SACRIFICES,  &c 

Many  derive  the  name  Saturnus*  from  sowing, 
because  be  first  taught  the  art  of  sowing  and  tilling 
the  gi'ound,  in  Italy ;  and  therefore  he  was  esteem- 
ed the  god  of  husbandry,  and  called  Stercutius  by 
the  Romans,  because  he  first  fattened  the  earth  with 
manure :  he  is  accordingly  painted  with  a  sickle, 

♦  Saturnus  dictus  est  a  Satu,  sicut  a  Portu  Portunus,  et  a  Nq^ 
tti  Neptunus.    Festus.  Serv.  in  JEn.  7.  Lips.  Sat.  3. 
11 


122 

with  which  the  meadows  are  mowed  and  the  corn  is 
cut  down.  This  sickle  was  thrown  into  Sicily,  and 
there  fell  within  a  city  then  called  Trepanmn,  and 
since  Trepano,  from  that  circumstance ;  though 
others  affirm,  that  this  city  had  its  name  from  that 
sickle  which  Ceres  had  from  Vulcan,  and  gave  the 
Titans  v/hen  she  taught  them  to  mow.  But  others 
say,  the  town  had  its  name  oecause  it  v/as  crooked 
and  hollow,  like  a  sickle.  Indeed  Sicily  is  so  fruit- 
ful in  corn  and  pasture,  that  the  poets  justly  imagin- 
ed that  the  sickle  was  invented  there. 

Saturnus  is  derived  from  that  ^fulness  which  is 
the  effect  of  his  bounty  when  he  fills  the  people  with 
provisions ;  as  his  wife  was  called  f  Ops,  because 
"  she  helps  the  hungry."  Others  affirm,  that  he  is 
called  Saturn,  Jbecause  he  is  satisfied  vjith  the  years 
that  he  devours,  for  Saturn  and  Time  are  the  same. 

Men  were  sacrificed  to  SaUirn,  because  he  was 
delighted,  as  they  thought,  with  human  blood : 
therefore  the  gladiators  were  placed  under  his  pro- 
tection, and  fought  at  his  feasts.  The  Romans  es- 
teemed him  an  infernal  gcd,  as  Plutarch  says,  be- 
cause the  planet  Saturn  is  malignant  and  hurtful. 
Those  who  sacrificed  to  him  had  their  heads  bare, 
and  his  priests  wore  scarlet  garments.  On  this  altar 
were  placed  wax  tapers  lighted,  because  by  Saturn 
men  were  brought  from  the  darlmess  of  error  to  the 
light  of  truth. 

The  feasts  Saturnalia,  in  the  Greek  language 
Kpovix  [^Croiiial  were  instituted  either  by  Tullu- 
king  of  the  Romans,  or,  if  we  believe  Livy,  by 
Sempronius  and  Minutius,  the  consuls.  Till  the 
time  of  Julius  Ceesar  they  were  finished  in  one  day, 
viz.  on  the  19th  of  December  ;  after  this  they  began 
to  celebrate  them  for  three  days ;  and  then,  during 
four  or  five,  by  the  order  of  CaUgula  :  and  some 

*  A  saturando,  quasi  saturet  populos  annona. 

f  Quod  esurientibes  opem  ferat. 

X  Quod  ipse  saturetur  annis  quos  ipse  devorat.  Cic.de  Nat.  Deor.  2 


123 

write,  that  they  lasted  seven  days.     Hence  they  call 
ed  these  days  the  first,  the  second,  the  third,  &ic 
festivals  of  Saturn  :  and  when  these  days  were  added 
to  the  feast,  the  first  day  of  celebrating  it  was  the 
17th  day  of  December. 

Upon  these  festival  days,  1.  The  senate  did  not 
sit.  2.  The  schools  kept  holyday.  3.  Presents 
were  sent  among  friends.  4.  It  was  milawful  to 
proclaim  war,  or  execute  oilenders.  5.  Servants 
were  allowed  to  be  jocose  and  merry  toward  their 
masters ;  as  we  learn  from  Ausonius  : 

"  Aurea  nunc  revocat  Saturni  festa  December ; 

Nunc  tibi  cum  doraino  ludere,  verna,  licet."  Eel.  de  Men. 

December  now  brings  Saturn's  merry  feasts, 
When  masters  bear  their  sportive  servants'  jests. 

6.  Nay,  the  masters  waited  on  their  servants,  who 
sat  at  table,  in  memory  of  that  liberty  which  all  en- 
joyed in  ancient  times  in  Saturn's  reign,  when  there 
was  no  servitude.  7.  Contrary  to  the  custom,  they 
washed  them  as  soon  as  they  arose,  as  if  tliey  were 
about  sitting  down  at  table.  8.  And  lastly,  they 
put  on  a  certain  festival  garment,  called  synthesis, 
like  a  cloak,  of  purple  or  scarlet  colour,  and  this 
gentlemen  only  wore. 

Q,UESTIOKS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

How  is  the  name  of  Saturn  derived,  and  why  is  he  esteemed 

Ihe  god  of  husbandry  ? 

Why  is  lae  often  painted  with  a  sickle  in  his  hand  ? 

How  do  others  derive  the  name  as  an  assistant  to  the  poor  ? 

Why  were  gladiators  put  under  his  protection  ? 

How  was  he  esteemed  by  the  Romans  ? 

How  were  jii-'  sacrifices  made  ? 

When  were  the  Saturnalia  institut<;d;  and  how  long  did  they 
last  in  each  year  ? 

What  peculiarities  were  observed  during  the  feasts  ? 

SEC.  3.— THE  HISTORICAL  SENSE  OF  THE  FABLE  BY 
SATURN  IS  MEANT  NOAH. 

Although  it  is  generally  said,  that  Saturn  was 
Nimrod,  the  founder  of  the  empire  of  Babylon,  yet  I 


124 

am  more  iiicliiKid  to  believe  the  opinion  of  Bochar* 
tus,  who  maintains  that  Saturn  and  Noah  were  the 
same.     The  reasons  which  he  brings  are  these  : 

1 .  In  the  time  of  Noah  '^the  whole  earth  spoke 
one  language  :  and  the  ancient  mythologists  say,  that 
the  beasts  understood  this  language.  And  it  is  said, 
jthat  in  Saturn's  age  there  was  but  one  language, 
which  was  common  to  men  and  brutes. 

2.  Noah  is  called  in  the  Hebrew  language  Ja 
man  of  the  earth,  that  is,  a  husbandman,  according 
to  the  usual  phrase  of  Scripture,  which  calls  a  sol- 
dier ||a  man  of  war  ;  a  strong  man  §a  man  of  arms  ; 
a  murderer  ITa  man  of  blood ;  an  orator  *^a  man 
of  words  ;  and  a  shepherd  \\artian  of  cattle.  Now 
Saturn  is  justly  called  a  man  of  the  earth,  because 
lie  married  Tellus,  whose  other  names  were  Rhea 
and  Ops. 

3.  As  Noah  was  the  first  planter  of  vineyards,  so 
the  art  of  cultivating  vines  and  fields  is  attributed  to 
Saturn's  invention. 

4.  As  Noah  was  once  overcome  with  wine,  be- 
cause perhaps  he  never  experienced  the  strength  of 
it  before;  so  the  Saturnahans  did  frequently  drink 
excessively,  because  Saturn  protected  drunken  men. 

5.  As  Noah  cursed  his  son  Ham,  because  he 
saw  his  father's  nakedness  with  delight ;  so  Saturn 
made  a  law  that  whoever  saw  the  gods  naked  should 
be  punished. 

6.  Plato  says,  "  that  Saturn  and  his  wife  Rhea, 
and  those  with  them,  were  born  of  Oceanus  and  The- 
tis :"  and  thus  Noah,  and  all  that  were  widi  him, 
were  in  a  manner  new  born  out  of  the  waters  of  the 
deluge,  by  the  help  of  the  ark.  And  if  a  ship  was 
sta;Tiped  upon  the  ancient  coins,  because  Saturn 

*  Genesis  xi.  1.  §  Job  xxii.  3. 

t  Plato  in  Politicis.  TI  2  Samuel  xvi.  17. 

X  Vir  terras,  Gen.  ix.  20.  **  Exod.  iv. 

jj  jQshuei  V,  4,  ft  Gen.  xlvi.  33. 


125 

came  into  Italy  in  a  ship  ;  surely  this  honour  be- 
longed rather  to  Noah,  who  in  a  ship  preserved  the 
race  of  mankind  from  utter  destruction. 

7.  Did  Noah  foretel  the  coming  of  the  flood  ?  so 
did  Saturn  foretel,  *"  that  there  should  be  great 
quantities  of  rain,  and  an  ark  built,  in  which  men, 
and  birds,  and  creeping  things,  should  all  sail  to- 
gether." 

8.  Saturn  is  said  to  have  devoured  all  his  sons, 
except  Jupiter,  Neptune,  and  Pluto.  So  Noah  may 
be  said  to  have  condemned  all  men,  f  because  he 
foretold  that  they  would  be  destroyed  in  the  flood. 
For  in  the  scripture  phrase,  the  prophets  are  said 
to  "  do  the  things  which  they  foretel  shall  be  done 
hereafter."  But  as  Saturn  had  three  sons  left  to  him 
not  devoured  ;  so  Noah  had  three,  Shem,  Cham  or 
Ham,  and  Japhet,  who  were  not  destroyed  by  the 
flood. 

Furthermore,  these  reasons  may  persuade  us  that 
Noah's  son  Cham  is  Jupiter  :  1 .  His  Hebrew  name 
Ham  is  by  many  called  Cham,  from  which  the 
Egyptians  had  the  name  'a^m-sv  [Amouri]  and  the 
Africans  had  Ammon  or  Hammon.  2.  Cham  was 
the  youngest  son  of  Noah,  as  Jupiter  was  of  Saturn. 
3.  Jupiter  is  said  to  be  lord  of  the  heavens ;  thus 
Cham  had  Africa,  which  comitry  is  esteemed  nearer 
the  heavens  than  any  other  countries,  because  it  has 
the  planets  vertical. 

Japhet  is  the  same  with  Neptune  ;  for  as  Nep- 
tune had  the  command  of  the  sea,  so  the  islands  and 
peninsulas  fell  chiefly  to  Japhet's  lot. 

Shem  is  supposed  to  be  the  Pluto  of  the  ancients, 
which  is  thus  accounted  for  :  he  was  so  holy,  and  so 

•  Kpovoj  vr^offnfi,a!vii  'uridcti  zrXn^of  e/ifipcj*  &LC.  id  est,  Satumns 
praenunciat  magnam  imbrium  vim  futuram,  et  fabricandam, 
«sse  arcani,  et  in  ea  cum  volucribus,  reptilibus,  atque  ju- 
mentis  esse  navigandum.  dlex.  Polyhislor.  Apud  Cyril,  contra 
Julian,  1.  1. 

t  Hebrews  xi.  7. 


126 

great  an  enemy  to  idolatry,  that  tlue  idolaters  hated 
him  while  he  lived,  and  endeavoured  to  blacken  his 
memory  when  he  died,  by  sending  him  to  the  Sty- 
gian darkness,  and  putting  into  his  hand  the  sceptre 
of  hell. 

The  Greek  words  signifying  Saturn  and  Time, 
differ  only  in  one  letter,  from  which  it  is  plain,  that 
by  Saturn,  Time  may  be  meant.  And  on  this  ac- 
count Saturn  is  painted  devouring  his  children,  and 
throwing  them  up  again  ;  as  time  devours  and  con- 
sumes all  things  that  it  has  produced,  which  at 
length  revive  and  are  renewed.  Our  days,  months, 
or  years,  are  the  children  of  Time,  which  he  con- 
stantly devours  and  produces  anew. 

Lastly,  as  Saturn  has  his  scythe,  so  has  Time  too, 
with  which  he  mows  down  all  things  ;  neither  can 
the  hardest  adamant  withstand  the  edge  thereof. 

qUESTWJ^S  FOR  EXAMINATION, 

With  what  scripture  character  has  Saturn  been  identified  ? 

What  is  the  first  reason  for  supposing  Saturn  and  Noah  to  bo 
the  same  person  ? 

What  is  the  second  ? 

What  is  the  third  ? 

What  is  the  fourth  ? 

What  is  the  fifth  ? 

What  is  the  sixth  ? 

What  is  the  seventh  ? 

What  is  the  eighth  ? 

What  are  the  reasons  for  supposing  Noah's  son  Cham  to  be 
Jupiter  ? 

With  which  of  the  scripture  characters  is  Neptune  compared  ? 

How  is  it  accounted  for  that  Shem  and  Pluto  are  the  same 
personages  ? 

Point  out  the  arguments  to  prove  that  Saturn  and  Time  are 
the  same  ? 


^  ■      or  TBE       '^y    \ 

U1TI7EESITTJ 


^^mmm 


127 


CHAPTER  n. 


SEC.  1. —JANUS.    HIS  IMAGE,  NAMES,   AND  ACTIONS 

Janus  is  the  two-faced  god  ;  holding  a  key  in  his 
right  hand,  and  a  rod  in  his  left.  Beneath  his  feet 
you  see  twelve  altars  ;  some  say  he  was  the  son  of 
Ccelus  and  Hecate  ;  and  that  this  name  was  given  to 
him  *from  a  word  signifying  to  go  or  pass  through, 
f Whence  it  is  that  thoroughfares  are  called  in  the 
plural  number  jani ;  and  the  gates  before  the  door 
of  private  houses,  januce.  A  place  at  Rome  was 
called  Jani,  in  which  were  three  images  of  Janus  : 
and  there  usurers  and  creditors  met  always  to  pay 
and  receive  money.  This  place  is  mentioned  both 
by  JTully  and  || Horace. 

As  he  is  painted  with  two  faces,  so  he  is  called  by 
Virgil,  Bifrons,  and  by  Ovid,  Biceps  : 

"  Jane  Biceps  anni  tacite  labentis  imago, 
Solus  de  superis,  qui  tua  terga  vides." 

Thou  double  pate,  the  sliding  year  dost  show, 
The  only  god  that  thine  own  back  can  view. 

Because  so  great  was  his  prudence,  that  he  saw 
both  the  things  past,  and  those  which  were  future. 
Or  by  Janus  the  world  was  thought  to  be  meant, 
viewing  with  two  faces  the  two  principal  quarters, 
the  east  and  the  west. 

When  Romulus,  king  of  the  Romans,  made  a 

•  Jan  IS  quasi  Eanus  ab  eundo. 

f  Unde  fit  ut  transitiones  perviae  Jani  (plurali  numero)  fores 
que  in  limis  profanarum  aedium  Januae  dicerentur.  Cic.  de  Nat. 
Deor. 

$  Viri  optimi  ad  medium  Janum  sedentes.  Cic.  de  Offic.  2. 
Dempster,  in  Paralip. 

[I  Imus  et  Summus  Janus.  Horat.  I.  1,  ep.  1. 


128 

league  with  Titus,  king  of  the  Sabines,  they  set  np 
an  image  of  Janus  Bifrons,  intending  thereby  to  re- 
present both  nations  between  which  the  peace  was 
conchided.  Numa  afterwards  built  a  temple,  which 
had  double  doors,  and  dedicated  it  to  the  same  Ja- 
nus. When  Fahsci,  a  city  of  Hetruria,  was  taken, 
there  was  an  image  of  Janus  found  with  four  faces ; 
upon  which  the  temple  of  Janus  had  four  gates,  but 
o£  that  temple  we  shall  speak  by-and-by. 

He  is  called  Claviger,  "  turnkey"  or  "  club-beai^ 
cr,"  from  the  rod  and  the  key  in  his  hands.  He 
held  the  rod,  because  he  was  the  guardian  of  the 
ways,  rector  viarum  ;  and  the  key  for  these  reasons : 

1.  He  was  the  inventor  of  locks,  doors,  and  gates, 
which  are  called  januce,  after  his  name  :  and  him- 
self is  called  Janitor,  because  doors  were  mider  hia 
protection. 

2.  He  is  the  Janitor  of  the  year,  and  of  all  the 
months ;  the  first  of  which  takes  the  name  of  Janu- 
ary from  him.  To  Juno  belongs  the  calends  of  the 
months,  and  she  committed  them  to  his  care,  there- 
fore he  is  called  by  some  Junonius,  and  Martial  takes 
notice,  that  the  government  of  the  year  was  com- 
mitted to  him  ;  for  which  reason  twelve  altars  were 
dedicated  to  him,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
months ;  as  there  were  also  twelve  small  chapels  in 
his  temple.  The  consuls  at  Rome  were  inaugurated 
in  tlie  temple  of  Janus,  who  were  from  this  said  to 
open  the  year.  Upon  the  calends  of  January  (and 
as  Macrobius  says  on  the  calends  of  March)  a  new 
laurel  was  hung  upon  the  statue  of  Janus,  and  the 
old  laurel  was  taken  away ;  to  which  custom  Ovid 
refers. 


"  Laurea  Flaminibus,  quae  toto  perstitit  anno 
Tollitur,  et  frondes  sunt  in  honore  novae."      Fast.  8L 

The  laurel  that  the  former  year  did  grace, 

T'  a  fresh  and  verdant  gailand  yields  his  place. 


129 

Pliny  thought  this  custom  was  occasioned  because 
Janus  rules  over  the  year  ;  "  The  statue,"  says  he, 
"of  Janus,  which  Avas  dedicated  by  Numa,  had  its 
fingers  so  composed,  as  to  signify  the  number  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  days  ;  to  show  diat  Ja- 
nus was  a  god,  by  his  knowledge  of  the  year,  and 
time,  and  ages."  He  had  not  these  figures  described 
on  his  hand,  but  had  a  peculiar  way  of  numbering 
tliem,  by  bending,  stretching,  or  mixing  his  fijigers, 
of  which  numeration  many  are  the  opinions  of  au- 
thors. 

3.  He  holds  a  key  in  his  hand,  because  he  is,  as 
it  were,  the  door  through  which  the  prayers  of  man- 
kind have  access  to  the  gods :  for,  in  all  sacrifices, 
prayers  were  offered  up  to  Janus.  And  Janus  him- 
self gives  the  same  reason,  as  we  find  in  Ovid,  why, 
before  men  sacrificed  to  any  of  the  other  gods,  they 
first  ofiered  sacrifice  to  him  : 

— "  Cur  quamvis  aliorum  numina  placem, 

Jane,  tibi  primum  thura  merumque  fero  ? 

Ut  posiis  adituaa  per  me,  qui  iimina  servo, 

Ad  quoscunque  voles  iiiquit;  habere  decs."        Fcut.  h 

Why  is't  that  though  I  other  gods  adore, 
I  first  must  Janus*  deity  implore  ? — 
Because  I  hold  the  door,  by  which  access 
Is  had  to  any  god  you  would  address. 

But  Festus  says,  because  men  thought  that  all 
things  took  their  being  from  Janus,  therefore  they 
first  made  their  supplications  to  him  as  to  a  common 
father.  For  though  the  name  father  is  given  to  all 
the  gods,  yet  Janus  was  particularly  called  by  tliis 
name. 

He  first  built  temples  and  altars,  and  instituted 
religious  rites ;  and  for  that  reason,  among  others, 
in  all  sacrifices  they  begin  their  rites  by  ofiering 
bread,  corn,  and  wine,  to  Janus,  before  any  thing  is 
ofiered  to  any  other  deity.  Frankincense  was  ne- 
ver ofiered  to  him,  though  Ovid  mentions  it,  whick 


130 

therefore  he  inserts  either  by  poetical  license,  or 
only  in  respect  to  the  sacrifices  which  were  in  use 
in  his  time.  For  Pliny  asserts,  that  they  did  not  sa- 
crifice with  firankincense  in  the  times  of  the  Trojans. 
Neither  does  Homer  m  the  least  mention  frankincense 
in  any  place  where  he  speaks  concerning  sacrificev5. 
He  was  also  called  Patulcius  and  Clusius,  or  Patu- 
lacius  and  Clausius ;  from  opening  and  shutting ; 
for  in  the  time  of  war  Janus'  temple  was  open,  but 
shut  in  the  time  of  peace.  This  temple  was  found- 
ed by  Romulus  and  Tatius.  Numa  ordained  that 
it  should  be  opened  when  the  Romans  waged  war, 
but  shut  when  they  enjojed  peace. 

Ovid  mentions  both  these  latter  names  of  Janus 
in  a  distich  :  and  Virgil  describes  the  manner  and 
occasion  of  opening  his  temple,  and  also  the  conse 
quences  of  shutting  i^  again : 

"  Sunt  gerainae  belli  portas  sic  nomine  dicunt 

Religione  S5)cr?e  e\  ^aivi  formidine  martis. 

Centum  aerei  claudunt  vecfes  ajternaque  ferri 

Robora  ;  nee  cusvos  abslsiit  limine  Janus. 

Has  ubi  cerla  sedet  patribus  sententia  pugnae, 

Ipse  Quii'inali  trabeacinctuqueGabino 

In^ignis,*  resfcrat  stridentla  limina  consul."     ^n.  7. 

Two  gates  of  steel  (the  name  of  Mars  they  bear, 
And  fecill  are  worshipped  with  religious  fear) 
Before  his  temple  stand  :  the  dire  abode 
And  the  fear'd  issues  of  the  furious  god 
Are  fenc'd  with  brazen  bolts ;  without  the  gates 
The  weary  guardian  Janus  doubtly  waits. 
Then  when  the  sacred  senate  votes  the  wars, 
The  Roman  consul  their  decree  declares, 
And  in  his  robes  the  sounding  gates  unbars. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  within  the  space  of  seven 
hundred  years,  tliis  temple  of  Jaims  was  shut  only 
thrice  :  once  by  Numa ;  the  second  time  by  the 
consuls  ]\Iarcus  Attilius  and  Titus  Manlius,  after  the 
Carthaginian  war ;  and  lastly,  by  Augustus,  after 
the  victory  at  Actium. 

In  this  story  of  Janus,  we  may  behold  the  repre- 
sentation of  a  very  prudent  person  ;  whose  wisdowj 


131 

consists  "  in  the  remembrance  of  things  past,  and  in 
the  foresight  of  things  to  come." 

"  Aspera  turn  positis  mitescent  saecula  bellis  : 
Cana  fides,  et  Vesta,  Remo  cum  fratre  Quirinus 
Jura  dabunt ;  dira^.  ferro  et  compagibus  arctis 
Claudentur  belli  porta?,  Furor  impius  intus, 
Sieva  sedens  super  arma,  et  centum  vinctus  ahenia 
Post  tergum  nodis,  fremet  horridus  ore  cruento." 

Then  dire  debate,  and  impious  war  shall  cease, 
Then  the  steni  age  be  sof len'd  into  peace : 
Then  banish'd  faith  shall  once  again  return, 
And  vestal  fires  in  liallow'd  temples  burn ; 
And  Remus  with  Quirinus  shall  sustain 
The  righteous  laws,  and  fraud  and  force  restrain. 
Janus  himself  before  his  fane  shall  wait, 
And  keep  the  dreadful  issues  of  his  gate, 
With  bolts  and  iron  bars.     Within  remains 
Imprison'd  Fury,  bound  in  brazen  chains ; 
High  on  a  trophy  rais'd  of  useless  arms 
He  sits,  and  threats  the  world  w^ith  vain  alarms. 

The  prudent  man  ought  therefore  to  have,  as  it 
were,  two  faces ;  that,  according  to  his  natural  sa- 
gacity of  mind,  and  ripeness  of  judgment,  observing 
both  things  past  and  future,  he  may  be  able  to  dis- 
cern the  causes,  beginnings,  and  progresses  of  all 
events  and  things. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Who  was  Janus,  and  from  what  is  his  name  derived  ? 
Who  mentions  the  place  called  the  Jani  at  Rome,  and  for 
whai  was  it  used  ? 

What  is  he  named  by  Virgil  and  Ovid,  and  why  ? 

What  happened  in  the  reigns  of  Romulus  and  Numa? 

Why  w^as  he  called  Claviger  ? 

Why  was  he  named  Janitor  ? 

Which  month  is  said  to  be  named  after  him 

Why  is  he  called  Junonius  ? 

Why  were  the  Roman  consuls  said  to  open  the  year? 

To  what  custom  does  Ovid  refer  ? 

What  does  Pliny  say  on  this  subject  ? 

Why  does  he  hold  a  key  in  his  hand  ? 

What  did  Janus  do  ? 

What  sacrifices  were  offered  to  him  ? 

Why  was  he  called  Patulcius  and  Clusius  ? 


132 

By  whom  was  the  temple  of  Janus  founded  ? 
In  hou'  long  was  it  only  thrice  shut? 
What  does  the  story  of  Janus  teach  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

VULCAN.  HIS  SERVANTS  AND  SONS 

Vulcan  is  both  a  smith  and  a  god,  and  had  a 
shop  in  the  island  Lemnos,  where  he  exercised  his 
trade,  and  where,  though  he  was  a  god  himself,  he 
made  Jupiter's  thunder  and  the  arms  of  the  other 
gods.  He  was  born  of  Jupiter  and  Juno,  some  say  of 
Jimo  only ;  and  being  contemptible  for  his  deformity, 
was  cast  down  from  heaven  into  the  island  Lemnos, 
whence  he  is  called  Lemnius  :  he  broke  his  leg  with 
the  fall,  and  if  the  Lemnians  had  not  caught  him  when 
he  fell,  he  had  certainly  broke  his  neck  :  he  has  ever 
since  been  lame.  "^'In  requital  of  their  kindness,  he 
fixed  his  seat  among  them,  and  set  up  the  craft  of  a 
smith ;  teaching  them  the  manifold  uses  of  fire  and 
iron  ;  and  from  softening  and  polishing  iron,  fhe  re- 
ceived the  name  Mulciber,  or  Midcifer.  He  was  the 
god  of  fire,  the  inventor  and  patron  of  the  art  of 
fabricating  arms  and  all  kinds  of  utensils  from  the 
metals.  His  most  celebrated  works  are  the  famous 
palace  of  the  sun  ;  the  armour  of  Achilles  and  Mne- 
as ;  the  beautiful  necklace  of  Hermione,  and  the 
CTOv^n  of  Ariadne.  According  to  Homer,  the  shield 
of  Achilles  was  enamelled  with  metals  of  various  co- 
lours, and  contained  twelve  historical  designs,  with 

•   "Ttov  i^iis  70V  "Epwra,  yctjvcc7x,a,,  o£  t^v  'A^/Joairw?, 

Cupid  is  Vulcan's  son,  Venus  his  wife, 
No  wonder  then  he  goes  lame  all  his  life. 

t   A  mulcendo  ferro.     Vide  Lucan,  1,  1. 


/'V^'- 


"V^m^ 


133 

groups  of  figures  of  great  beauty :  the  seats  wK 
Vulcan  constructed  for  the  gods  were  so  contrive- 
that  they    came  self-moved  from   the  sides  of  thi 
apartment  to  the  place  where  each  god  seated  him- 
self at  the  table  when  a  council  was  to  be  held.     He 
is  described  by  Homer  in  the  midst  of  his  works  • 


-the  silver  footed  dame 


Reacli'd  the  Vulcanian  dome,  eternal  frame ! 

High-eminent,  amid  the  works  divine, 

Where  heaven's  far  beaming  brazen  mansions  shine. 

There  the  lame  Architect  tlie  goddess  found, 

Obscure  in  smoke,  his  forges  flaming  round  ; 

While  bath'd  in  SAveat,  from  fire  to  lire  he  flew, 

And,  puffing  loud,  the  roaring  bellows  blew\ 

Then  from  his  anvil  the  lame  artist  rose  ; 

Wide  with  distorted  legs  obliijue  he  goes, 

And  stills  the  bellows,  and,  in  order  laid. 

Locks  in  their  chest  the  instruments  of  trade. 

Then  with  a  sponge  the  sooty  workman  drest 

His  brawny  arms  imbrown'd,  and  hairy  breast: 

With  his  huge  sceptre  grac'd,  and  red  attire. 

Came  halting  forth  the  sov'reign  of  the  fire. — Homer, 

He  obtained  in  marriage  the  most  beautiful  god- 
dess Venus ;  who  behaved  treacherously  towards 
him,  as  has  been  already  noticed.  He  desired  to 
marry  ^linerva,  and  Jupiter  consented,  if  he  could 
overcome  her  modesty.  For  when  Vulcan  made 
arms  for  the  gods,  Jupiter  gave  him  leave  to  choose 
out  of  the  goddesses  a  wife,  and  he  chose  Minerva ; 
but  he  admonished  her  at  the  same  time  to  refuse 
him,  as  she  successfully  did. 

At  Rome  were  celebrated  the  Vulcania,  feasts  in 
lionour  of  Vulcan ;  at  which  they  threw  animals 
into  the  fire  to  be  burnt  to  death.  The  Athenians 
instituted  other  feasts  to  his  honour,  called  Chalsea. 
A  temple  besides  was  dedicated  to  him  upon  the 
mountain  jEtna,  from  which  he  is  sometimes  named 
iEtnaeus.  This  temple  was  guarded  by  dogs,  whose 
sense  of  smeUing  was  so  exquisite,  that  they  could 
discern  whether  the  persons  tha  came  thither  were 
chaste  and  religious,  or  whether  they  were  wicked  ^ 
12 


134 

they  used  to  meet,  and  flatter  and  follow  the  good, 
esteeming  them  the  acquaintance  and  friends  of  Vul- 
can their  master. 

It  is  feigned,  that  the  first  woman  was  fashioned 
by  the  hammer  of  Vulcan,  and  that  every  god  gave 
lier  some  present,  whence  she  was  called  Pandora. 
Pallas  gave  her  wisdom,  Apollo  the  art  of  music, 
Mercury  the  art  of  eloquence,  Venus  gave  her  beau- 
ty, and  the  rest  of  the  gods  gave  her  other  ac- 
comphshments.  They  say  also,  that  when  Prome- 
theus stole  fire  from  heaven,  to  animate  the  man 
which  he  had  made,  Jupiter  was  incensed,  and  sent 
Pandora  to  Prometheus  with  a  sealed  box,  but  Pro- 
metheus would  not  receive  it.  He  sent  her  with  the 
same  box  again  to  the  wife  of  Epimetheus,  the  bro- 
ther of  Prometheus  ;  and  she,  out  of  a  curiosity  na- 
tural to  her  sex,  opened  it,  which  as  soon  as  she 
had  done,  all  sorts  of  diseases  and  evils,  with  which 
it  was  filled,  flew  among  mankind,  and  have  infest- 
ed them  ever  since.  And  nothing  was  left  in  the 
bottom  of  the  box  but  Hope. 

Vulcan's  servants  were  called  Cyclops,  because 
they  had  but  one  eye,  which  was  in  the  middle  of 
tlieir  foreheads,  of  a  circular  figure ;  Neptune  and 
Amphitrite  were  their  parents.  The  names  of  three 
of  them  were  Brontes,  Steropes,  and  Pyracmon  ; 
besides  these  there  were  many  more,  ail  of  whom 
exercised  the  art  of  smithery  under  Vulcan,  as  we 
are  taught  by  Virgil. — JEn.  8. 

Cacus,  so  called  from  his  wickedness,  tormented 
all  Latium  with  his  fires  and  robberies  ;  living  like  a 
beast  in  a  dismal  cave.  He  stole  Hercules'  oxen, 
and  dragged  them  backward  by  their  tails  into  his 
cave,  that  the  track  of  their  feet  might  not  discover 
this  repository  of  his  thefts.  But  Hercules  passing 
by,  heard  tlie  lowing  of  the  oxen  in  the  cave,  broke 
open  the  doors,  and  seizing  the  villain,  put  him  to 
death. —  Virg.  JEn.  8. 


135 

His  cave  was  so  dark,  that  it  admitted  not  the 
least  ray  of  light ;  the  floor  of  it  was  red  with  the 
blood  perpetually  shed  upon  it,  and  the  heads  and 
limbs  of  tlie  men  he  had  murdered  were  fastened  to 
the  posts  of  the  doors. 

Cae-culus  also  lived  by  plunder  and  robbery.  He 
was  so  called  from  the  smallness  of  his  eyes  :  it  is 
tliought  the  noble  family  of  the  Csecihi  at  Rome  de- 
rived their  origin  from  him.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  city  Prseneste.  Others  say,  that  the  shep- 
herds found  Cseculus  unhurt  in  the  midst  of  the  fire, 
as  soon  as  he  was  born ;  from  which  he  was  thought 
to  be  the  son  of  Vulcan. 

To  these  servants  and  sons  of  Vulcan,  add  the 
shepherd  Polyphemus,  a  monster  not  unlike  them, 
born  of  Neptune.  For  he  had  but  one  eye  in  his 
forehead,  like  the  Cyclops,  and  he  procured  his 
living  by  murders  and  robberies,  like  Cacus  and 
Cseculus.  This  monster  drew  Ulj^sses  and  some  of 
his  companions  into  his  den  in  Sicil}^,  and  devoured 
them.  He  thought,  too,  that  the  rest  of  Ulysses' 
servants  could  not  escape  his  jaws.  But  Ulysses 
made  him  drunk  with  wine,  and  then  with  a  fire 
brand  quite  put  out  his  sight,  and  escaped. 


"  Visceribus  miserorum,  et  sanguine  vescitur  atro, 
Vidi  egomet,  duo  de  numero  cum  corpora  nostra 
Prensa  manu  magna,  medio  resupinus  in  antro 
Fran ge ret  ad  saxum,  sanieque  aspera  natarent 
Limiiia:  vidi,  atro  cum  membra  fluentia  tabo 
Manderet,  et  tepidi  tremerent  sub  dcntibus  artus. 
Hand  impune  quidem  :  nee  talia  passus  Ulysses, 
Oblitusve  sui  est  Ithacus  discrimine  tanto. 
Nam  simul  e^pletus  dapibus,  vinoque  sepultus 
Cervicem  inflexam  posuit,  jacuitque  per  antrum 
Immensus,  saniem  eructans,  ac  frusta  cruento 
Per  somnum  cornmixta  mero  ;  nos  magna  precati 
Numina,  sortitique  vices,  una  undique  circum 
Fundimur,  et  telo  lumen  terebramus  acute 
Ingens  ;  quod  torva  solum  sub  fronte  latebat, 
Argolici  clypei  aut  Phoebeae  lampadis  instar." — 

Vir^.  Mn.  3 


136 

The  joints  of  slaughter'd  Avrelches  are  his  food, 

And  for  his  wine  he  quaffs  the  streaming  blood. 

These  eyes  beheki,  when  with  his  spacious  hand 

He  seiz'd  two  captives  of  our  Grecian  hand  ; 

Stretch'd  on  liis  back,  he  dash'd  against  the  stones 

Their  broken  bodies  and  tlieir  crackling  bones. 

With  spouting  blood  tiie  purple  pavement  swims, 

While  the  dhe  glutton  grinds  tlie  trembling  limbs. 

Not  unreveng'd  Ulysses  bore  their  fate, 

Nor  thoughtless  of  his  own  unhappy  state; 

For  gorg'd  with  flesh,  and  drunk  with  human  wine, 

While  fast  asleep  the  giant  lay  supine, 

Snoring  aloud,  and  belcliing  from  his  maw 

His  undigested  foam  and  morsels  raw ; 

We  pray,  we  c:ist  the  lots;  and  then  surround 

The  monstrous  body,  stietch"d  along  the  ground, 

Each  as  he  could  approach  him,  lends  a  hand 

To  bore  his  eyebald  with  a  fiaming  brand ; 

Beneath  his  frowning  forehead  lay  his  eye, 

For  only  one  did  this  vast  frame  supply, 

But  that  a  globe  so  large,  iiis  front  it  fill'd. 

Like  the  sun's  disk,  or  like  the  Grecian  shield. 

qUESTIOKS  FOR  EXMILY^TIOJV. 

Who  was  Vulcan,  and  where  did  he  exercise  his  trade 
Whose  son  was  he,  and  what  accident  happened  to  him  .' 
How  was  his  iife  saved,  and  how  did  he  requite  the  kindness 
of  his  benefactors  ? 
Who  did  he  marry  ? 

Did  he  wish  to  marry  any  one  besides,  and  was  he  successful  / 
What  were  the  Vulcania,  and  how  were  they  celebrated  .'' 
What  other  feasts;  and  what  temple  was  dedicated  to  him' 
What  is  said  of  the  dogs  that  guarded  that  temple  ? 
What  story  is  told  of  Vulcan  with  respect  to  Pandora.' 
Who  were  Vulcan's  servants,  and  w^iat  was  their  business' 
What  is  said  of  his  son  Cacus  ? 
What  is  said  of  Calculus,  another  son  ? 
How  is  Polyphemus  described  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 


iEOLUS. 


He  who  stands  next  him  is  iEokis,  the  "  god  of 
the  winds,"  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Acesta  or  Seges 
ta,  the  daughter  of  Hippotas,  from  whom  he  is  iia 


137 

nied  Hippotades.  He  dwelt  in  one  oi  thost  seven 
islands,  which  from  him  are  called  iEolise,  and  some- 
times Vulcanise.  He  was  a  skillul  astronomer,  and 
an  excellent  natural  philosopher  :  he  understood 
more  particularly  tlie  nature  of  the  winds  ;  and,  by 
observing  the  clouds  of  smoke  of  the  ^olian  islands, 
he  was  enabled  to  foretel  winds  and  tempests  a 
great  while  before  they  arose,  and  it  was  generally 
believed  they  were  under  his  power  :  so  that  he 
could  raise  the  winds,  or  still  them  as  he  pleased. 
Hence  he  was  styled  emperor  and  king  of  the  winds, 
the  children  of  Astreeus  and  Aurora.  Virgil  de- 
scribes Juno  coming  to  him,  at  his  palace,  of  whicJ: 
he  gives  a  description  'n  beautiful  verse ; 

"  Nimborum  in  patriam,  loca  feta  furentibus  Austris, 
^oliatn  venit.     Hie  vasto  rex  iEolus  antro 
Luctantes  ventos,  tempestatesque  sonoras 
Imperio  premit,  ac  vinclis  et  carcere  froenat. 
lUi  indignantes  magno  cum  murmure  mentis 
Circum  claustra  fremunt.     Cclsa  sedet  jEoIus  arce, 
Sceptra  tenens  ;  mollitque  animos,  et  tcmperat  has* 
Ni  facial,  maria  ac  terras,  ccelumque  profundum 
Quippe  ferant  rapidi  secum,  verrantque  per  auras, 
Sed  pater  omnipotens  speluncis  abdldit  atris, 
Hoc  metuens  ;  molemque,  et  montes  insuper  altos, 
Imposuit ;  regeraque  dedit,  qui  focdere  certo, 
Et  premere,  et  laxas  sciret  dare  jussus  habenas." 

Thus  rag'd  the  goddess,  and  with  fury  fraught. 
The  restless  regions  of  the  storms  she  sought. 
Where,  in  a  spacious  cave  of  living  stone, 
The  Tyrant  ^Eolus,  from  his  airy  throne, 
With  pow'r  imperial  curbs  the  struggling  winds, 
And  sounding  tempests  in  dark  prisons  binds. 
This  way  and  that,  th'  in.patient  captives  tend. 
And,  pressing  for  relief,  the  mountains  rend. 
High  in  his  hall  th'  undaunted  monarch  stands, 
And  shakes  his  sceptre,  and  their  rage  commands  j 
Which  did  he  not,  their  unresisted  sway 
Would  sweep  the  world  before  them  in  their  way. 
Earth,  air  and  seas,  through  empty  space  would  roll, 
And  heav'n  would  fly  before  the  driving  soul. 
In  fear  of  this,  the  father  of  the  gods 
Confined  their  fury  to  these  dark  abodes, 
And  lock'd  them  safe,  oppress'd  with  mountain-loads  5 
12* 


138 

Impos'd  a  king  with  arbitrary  sway, 

To  loose  their  fetters,  or  their  force  allay. 

Q,UESTIO^^S  FOR  EXJMIJV^TIOK. 

Who  was  Mollis,  and  where  did  he  liv^e  ? 
What  was  his  character  as  a  philosopher? 
What  was  generally  believed  of  him  ? 
How  was  he  styled  in  consequence  of  this  ? 
Give  Virgil's  fine  description — 


CHAPTER  V. 

MOMUS. 

The  name  of  the  god  Momus  is  derived  from  the 
Greek,  signifying  a  jester,  mocker,  or  mimick ;  for 
tliat  is  his  business.  He  follows  no  particular  em- 
ployment, but  lives  an  idle  life,  yet  nicely  observes 
the  actions  and  sayings  of  the  other  gods,  and  when 
he  finds  them  doing  amiss,  or  neglecting  their  duty, 
he  censures,  mocks  and  derides  them  with  the  great- 
est liberty. 

Neptune,  Vulcan,  and  Minerva,  may  witness  the 
truth  of  this.  They  all  contended  for  the  mastery 
as  the  most  skilful  artificer :  whereupon  Neptune 
made  a  bull,  Minerva  a  house,  and  Vulcan  a  man  : 
Momus  was  appointed  judge  between  them ;  but  he 
chid  them  all  three.  He  accused  Neptune  of  impru- 
dence, because  he  did  not  place  the  bull's  horns  in 
his  forehead  before  his  eyes  :  for  then  the  bull  might 
give  a  surer  and  a  stronger  blow.  He  blamed  Mi- 
nerva, because  her  house  was  immoveable  ;  so  that  it 
could  not  be  carried  away,  if  by  chance  it  was  pla- 
ced among  bad  neighbours.  But  he  said  that  Vul- 
can was  the  most  imprudent  of  them  all,  because  he 
did  not  make  a  window  in  the  man's  breast,  that  we 


139 

might  see  what  his  thoughts  were,  whether  he  de- 
signed some  trick,  or  whether  he  intended  what  he 
spoke. 

The  parents  of  Momus  were  Nox  and  Somniis.  It 
IS  a  sign  of  a  dull,  drowsy,  sottish  disposition,  when 
we  see  a  man  satirizing  and  censuring  the  actions  of 
all  other  men,  because  none  but  God  is  wholly  per- 
fect :  some  imperfections  attaches  to  every  other  be- 
ing, so  that  every  thing  is  defective  and  liable  to 
blame. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMIKJITION. 

What  does  the  name  of  Momus  signify  ? 
How  is  he  employed  ? 

For  what  did  Neptune,  Vulcan,  and  Minerva  contend  ? 
What  was  the  decision  of  Momus  with  respect  to  their  SCT©- 
n»l  performances  ? 

Who  were  the  parents  of  Momus  ? 
What  does  a  satirical  temper  indicate 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OF  THE  TERRESTRIAL  GODDESS  VESTA 

Vesta,  whom  you  see  sitting  and  holding  a  drum 
is  the  wife  of  Coelum,  and  the  mother  of  Saturn. 
She  is  the  eldest  of  the  goddesses,  and  is  placed 
among  the  terrestrial  goddesses,  because  she  is  the 
same  with  Terra,  and  has  her  name  from  *clothing ; 
plants  and  fruits  being  the  garments  of  the  earth. 
Or,  f  according  to  Ovid,  the  earth  is  called  Vesta 
from  its  stabihty,  because  it  supports  itself.     She 

•  Quod  plantis  frugibusque  terra  vestiatur. 

t  "  Stat  vi  terra  sua,  vestando  Vesta  vocatur."— — Farf.  6. 

By  its  own  strength  supported  Terra  stands ; 
Hence  it  is  Vesta  nam'd. 


140 

sits,  because  the  earth  is  immoveable,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  be  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  world.  Ves- 
ta has  a  drum,  because  the  earth  contains  the  bois- 
terous winds  in  its  bosom  ;  and  divers  flowers  weave 
tiiemselves  into  a  crown,  with  which  her  head  is 
crowned.  Several  kinds  of  animals  creep  about  and 
fawn  upon  her.  Because  the  earth  is  round,  Ves- 
ta's temple  at  Rome  was  also  round,  and  some  say 
that  the  image  of  Vesta  was  orbicular  in  some  pla- 
ces, but  "^Ovid  says  her  image  was  rude  and  shape- 
less. And  hence  round  tables  were  anciently  called 
vestce,  because,  like  the  card),  they  supply  all  neces- 
saries of  life  for  us.  It  is  no  wonder  that  the  first 
oblations  in  all  sacrifices  were  offered  to  her,  since 
whatever  is  sacrificed  springs  from  the  earth.  And 
the  Greeks  both  began  and  concluded  their  sacrifi- 
ces with  Vesta,  whom  they  esteemed  as  the  mother 
of  all  the  gods. 

There  were  two  Vestas,  the  elder  and  the  young- 
er. The  first  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking  was 
the  wife  of  Coelum  and  the  mother  of  Saturn. 
The  second  was  the  daughter  of  Saturn  by  his  wife 
Rhea.  And  as  the  first  is  the  same  with  Terra, 
so  the  other  is  the  same  with  Ignis  :  and  her  power 
was  exercised  about  altars  and  houses.  The  woi'd 
vesta  is  often  put  for  fire  itself,  for  it  is  derived  from 
a  Greek  word  which  signifies  a  chimney,  a  house,  or 
household  goods.  She  is  esteemed  the  president 
and  guardian  of  houses,  and  one  of  the  household 
deities ;  not  without  reason,  since  she  invented  tlie 
art  of  building  houses  :  and,  therefore,  an  image  of 
Vesta,  to  which  they  sacrificed  every  day,  was  pla- 
ced before  the  doors  of  the  houses  at  Rome :  and 
the  places  where  these  statues  were  set  up  were  call- 
ed vestibular  from  Vesta. 

•  "  Effigiem  nullam  Vesta  nee  ignis  habet." 

No  image  V^esta's  shape  can  e'er  express, 
Or  fire's 


1 


141 

Tins  goddess  was  a  virgin,  and  so  great  an  ad- 
mirer of  virginity,  that  when  Jupiter,  her  brother, 
gave  her  liberty  of  asking  what  she  would,  she  beg- 
ged that  she  might  always  be  a  virgin,  and  have  the 
first  oblations  in  all  sacrifices.  She  not  only  ob- 
tained her  desire  but  received  this  further  honour 
among  the  Romans,  that  a  perpetual  fire  was  kept 
in  her  temp!e,  among  the  sacred  pledges  of  the  em- 
pire ;  not  upon  an  altar,  or  in  tlie  chimnies,  but  in 
earthen  vessels,  hanging  in  the  air ;  which  the  ves- 
tal virgms  tended  with  so  much  care,  that  if  by 
chance  this  fire  was  extinguished,  all  public  and  pri- 
vate business  was  interrupted,  and  a  vacation  pro- 
claimed till  they  had  expiated  the  unhappy  prodigy 
with  incredible  pains ;  and  if  it  appeared  that  the 
virgins  were  the  occasion  of  its  going  out,  by  care- 
lessness, they  were  severely  pmiished,  and  sometimes 
with  rods. 

In  j-ecompense  for  this  severe  law,  the  vestals  ob- 
tained extraordinary  privileges  and  respect :  they 
had  the  most  honourable  seat  at  games  and  festi- 
vals :  the  consuls  and  magistrates  gave  way  when- 
ever they  met  them  :  their  declarations  in  trials  were 
admitted  without  the  form  cf  an  oath  ;  and,  if  they 
happened  to  encounter  in  their  path  a  criminal  go- 
ing to  the  place  of  execution,  he  immediately  ob- 
tained his  pardon.  Upon  the  calends  of  ]\Iarch, 
every  year,  though  it  was  not  extinguished,  they 
used  to  renew  it  with  no  other  fire  than  that  which 
was  produced  by  the  rays  of  the  sun. 

It  has  been  conjectured,  that  when  the  poets  say 
that  Yesta  is  the  same  with  fire,  the  fire  of  Vulcan's 
forge  is  not  miderstood,  nor  yet  the  dangerous  flames 
of  Venus,  but  a  pure,  unmixed,  benign  llame,  so  ne- 
cessary for  us,  that  human  life  cannot  possibly  sub- 
sist without  it ;  whose  heat  being  difiiised  through 
all  the  parts  of  the  body,  quickens,  cherishes,  re- 
freshes, and  nourishes  it ;  a  flame  really  sacred,  hea- 


142 

venly,  and  divine  ;  repaired  daily  by  the  food  which 
we  eat,  and  on  which  the  safety  and  welfare  of  our 
bodies  depend.  Tins  llame  moves  and  actuates  the 
whole  body ;  and  cannot  be  exthiguished  but  when 
life  itself  ceases  with  it. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMIKATIOK. 

"Who  Avas  Vesta  ? 

Why  is  she  placed  among  the  terrestrial  goddesses 

What  reasons  are  assigned  for  the  ornaments  with  which  she 
ts  decked  ? 

Why  is  Vesta's  temple  round  ? 

What  are  the  Vestas  ? 

Why  Avere  tlie  first  sacrifices  offered  to  Vesta  ? 

W^hy  did  the  Greeks  begin  and  conclude  their  sacrifices  with 
Vesta  ? 

Who  Avere  thp  Iaa'd  Vestas  ? 

For  Avhat  i^s  Uie  word  "  vesta"  put? 

W"hy  is  she  esteeiiicd  the  president  and  guardian  of  houses  : 
and  AAhy  AA'as  her  image  placed  before  the  doors  of  the  houses 
at  Rome  ? 

What  favour  did  she  ask  of  Jupiter ;  and  Avhat  other  honour 
did  she  obtain  among  the  Romans  ? 

V^^hat  Avas  the  duty  of  the  vestal  \'irgins  ? 

What  Avas  the  punishment  inflicted  on  them  if  they  suffered 
Che  fire  to  go  out  ? 

What  respect  Avas  paid  them,  by  Avay  of  recompense  for  the 
severity  of  this  law  ? 

When  and  hoAv  Avas  the  vestal  fire  reneAved? 

What  is  understood  by  the  vestal  fire  ? 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SEC.  1.— CYBELE.  HER  IMAGE.  HER  NAMES. 

Cybele  is  the  goddess  not  of  cities  only,  but  of 
all  things  which  the  earth  sustains.  She  is  the 
Earth  itself.  On  the  earth  are  built  many  towers 
and  castles,  so  on  her  head  is  placed  a  crown  of  tow- 
ers.    In  her  hand  she  carries  a  key,  for  in  winter 


143 

the  earth  loclis  up  those  treasures  which  she  brings 
forth  and  dispenses  with  so  much  plenty  in  summer. 
She  rides  in  a  chariot,  because  the  earth  hangs 
suspended  in  the  air,  balanced  and  poised  by 
its  own  weight.  But  that  chariot  is  supported  by 
wheels,  since  the  earth  is  a  revolving  body,  and  turns 
round  ;  and  it  is  drawn  by  lions,  because  nothing  is 
so  fierce,  so  savage,  or  so  ungovernable,  but  a  mo- 
therly piety  and  tenderness  is  able  to  tame  it,  and 
make  it  submit  to  the  yoke.  I  need  not  explain 
why  her  garments  are  painted  with  divers  colours, 
and  figured  with  the  images  of  several  creatures, 
since  every  body  sees  that  such  a  dress  is  suitable 
to  the  earth. 

She  is  called  Cybele,  and  Ops,  and  Rhea,  and 
Dindymene,  and  Berecynthia,  and  Bona  Dea,  (the 
good  goddess,)  and  Ideea,  and  Pessinuntia,  and 
Magna  Deorum  Mater,  (the  great  mother  of  the 
gods,)  and  sometimes  also  Vesta.  All  these  names, 
for  different  reasons,  were  given  to  the  same  god- 
dess ;  who  was  the  daughter  of  Coelum  by  the  elder 
Vesta,  and  Saturn's  wife. 

She  is  called  Cybele,  from  the  mountain  Cybelus 
in  Phrygia,  where  sacrifices  were  first  instituted  to 
her.  Or  the  name  was  given  her  from  the  behaviour 
of  her  priests,  who  used  to  dance  upon  their  heads, 
and  toss  about  their  hair  like  madmen,  foretelling 
things  to  come,  and  making  a  horrible  noise.  These 
were  named  Galli,  and  this  fury  and  outrage  in  pro- 
phesying is  described  by  Lucian  in  his  first  book. 

Others  again  derive  the  word  Cybele  from  a  cube, 
because  the  cube,  which  is  a  body  every  way  square, 
was  dedicated  to  her  by  the  ancients. 

She  is  called  Ops,  because  she  brings  help  and 
assistance  to  every  thing  contained  in  this  world. 

Her  name  ^Rhea  is  derived  from  the  abundance 

*  A  psu,  fluo,  quod  bonis  omnibus  circumfluat. 


144 

of  benefits,  which,  without  ceasing,  flow  from  her 
on  every  side. 

Dindymeiie  and  Dindj'me,  is  a  name  jjiven  her 
from  the  mountain  Dindymus,  in  PIn-ygia. 

Virgil  calls  her  mater  Berecjnthia,  from  Bere- 
cynthus,  a  castle  in  that  country ;  and  in  the  same 
place  describes  her  numerous  and  happy  offspring. 


-'*  Qualis  Berecynthia  mater 


Invehitur  curru  Piirygiai  turrita  per  urbes 

Laeta  Deum  partu,  centum  complexa  nepotes, 

Omnes  ccelicolas,  omms  supera  alta  tenentes." — wEn.  6. 

High  as  the  mother  of  the  gods  in  places, 

And  proud,  like  her,  of  an  immortal  race, 

Then,  when  in  pomp  she  makes  the  Phrygian  round| 

With  golden  turrets  on  her  temple  crown'd, 

A  hundred  gods  her  sweeping  train  supply, 

Her  offspring  all,  and  all  command  the  sliy. 

She  was  by  the  Greeks  called  ^Pasithea ;  that  is, 
as  the  Romans  usually  named  her,  the  mother  of  all 
the  gods ;  and  from  the  -j-Greek  word  signifying  a 
mother.  Her  sacrifices  were  named  Metroa,  and  to 
celebrate  them  was  called  Metrazein,  in  the  same 
language. 

Her  name  Bona  Dea  implies  that  all  good  things 
necessary  for  the  support  of  life  proceed  from  her. 
She  is  also  called  Fauna,  Jbecause  she  is  said  to  fa- 
vour all  creatures ;  and  Fatua,  because  it  was 
thought  that  new  born  children  never  cried  till  they 
touched  the  ground.  It  is  said,  that  this  Bona  Dea 
was  the  wife  of  king  Faunus  ;  who  beat  her  with 
myrtle  rods  till  she  died,  because  she  disgraced  her- 
self, and  acted  very  unsuitable  to  the  dignity  of  a 
queen,  by  drinking  so  much  wine  that  she  became 

•  Pasithea,  id  est,  zrasi  ^seis  fi'^mp,  omnibus  diis  maters, 
Luc.  1.  2. 

t  A  f/.tiTfip,  mater,  dcrivantnr  f^arpua  Cybeles  sacra,  et  ft^ 
rfKtuv  sacra  ea  celebrare.     Coel.  Rhod.  1.  8.  c.  17 

t  Fauna  quod  animantibus  favere,  dicatur. 


145 

drunk.  But  the  king  afterwards  repenting  of  his 
severity,  deilied  his  dead  wife,  and  paid  her  divine 
honours.  This  is  the  reason  assigned  why  it  was 
forbidden  that  any  one  sliould  bring  myrtle  into  her 
temple.  In  her  sacrifices,  the  vessels  of  wine  were 
covered ;  and  when  the  women  drank  out  of  them 
they  called  it  milk,  not  wine.  ^The  modesty  of. 
this  goddess  was  so  extraordinary,  that  no  man  ever 
saw  her  except  her  husband  ;  or  scarce  heard  her 
name  :  wherefore  her  sacrifices  were  performed  in 
private,  and  all  men  were  excluded  from  the  temple. 

*'  Sacra  bonag  maribus  non  adeunda  Deae. —  Tib.  I.  el.  6. 
No  men  admitted  were  to  Cybele's  rites. 

From  the  great  privacy  observed  by  her  votaries, 
the  place  in  which  her  sacrifices  were  performed  was 
called  Opertum,  and  the  sacrifices  themselves  were 
styled  Opertanea,  for  the  same  reason  that  Pluto  is 
by  the  poets  called  Gpertus.  Silence  was  observed 
in  a  most  peculiar  manner  in  the  sacrifices  of  Bona 
Dea,  as  it  was  in  a  less  degree  in  all  other  sacrifices  , 
according  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Pythagoreans  and 
Egyptians,  v\  ho  taught,  that  God  was  to  be  worship- 
ped in  silence,  since  from  this,  at  the  first  creation, 
all  things  took  their  beginning.  To  the  same  pur- 
pose, Plutarch  says,  "fMen  were  our  masters  to 
teach  us  to  speak,  but  we  learn  silence  from  the 
gods  :  from  those  we  learn  to  hold  our  peace,^  m 
tiieir  rites  and  initiations." 

She  was  called  Idsea  Mater,  from  the  mountahi 
Ida,  ih  Phr^gia,  or  Crete,  for  she  was  at  both  pla- 
ces highly  honoured  :  as  also  at  Rome,  whither  they 
brought  her  from  the  city  Pessinus  in  Galatia,  by  a 

Juvenal.  Sat.  9. 
t  Loquendi  magistrds  homines  habemus,  tacendi  Decs:  ab 
niis  silentium  accipientes  in  initiationibus  et  mysteriis : — Plut, 
de  LoQuac. 

13 


146 

remarkable  miracle.  For  when  the  ship  in  which 
she  was  carried,  stopped  in  the  mouth  of  tlie  Tiber, 
tlie  vestal  Claudia  (whose  fine  dress  and  free  beha- 
viour made  her  modesty  suspected)  easily  drew  the 
ship  to  si  lore  witii  her  girdle,  where  the  goddess  was 
received  by  the  hands  of  virgins,  and  the  citizens 
went  out  to  meet  her,  placing  censers  v/ith  frankin- 
cense before  their  doors  ;  and  when  they  had  lighter 
the  frankincense,  they  prayed  that  she  would  enter 
freely  into  Rome,  and  be  favourable  to  it.  And  be- 
cause the  Sybils  had  prophesied  that  Ideea  Mater 
should  be  introduced  by  the  "  best  man  among  the 
Romans,  the  senate  ^'was  a  httle  busied  to  pass  a 
judgment  in  the  case,  and  resolve  who  was  the  best 
man  in  the  city  :  for  every  one  was  ambitious  to  get 
the  victory  in  a  dispute  of  that  nature  more  than  if 
they  stood  to  be  elected  to  any  commands  or  honours 
by  the  voices  either  of  the  senate  or  people.  At  last 
the  senate  resolved  that  P.  Scipio,  the  son  of  Cneus, 
who  was  killed  in  Spain,  a  young  gentleman  who 
had  never  been  quccstor,  was  the  best  man  in  the 
whole  cit3^" 

She  was  called  Pessinuntia  -j-from  a  certain  field 
in  Phrygia,  into  which  an  image  of  her  fell  from  hea- 
ven ;  from  this  the  place  was  called  Pessinus,  and 
the  goddess  Pessinuntia.  And  here  the  Phrygians 
first  began  to  celebrate  the  sacrifices  Orgia  to  this 
goddess,  near  the  river  Gallus,  from  which  her  priests 
were  called  Galli.  When  these  priests  desired  that 
great  respect  and  adoration  should  be  paid  to  any 
thing,  they  pretended  that  it  fell  from  heaven  ;  and 

*  Haud  parvoe  rei  judicium  senatum  tenebat,  qui  vir  optimus 
in  clvitate  esset :  verum  certe  victoriam  ejus  rei  sibi  quisque 
mallet,  quam  ulla  imperia,  honoresve,  suffragio  seu  Patrum,  sen 
Plebis,  delates.  Patres  conscripti  P.  Scipionem,  Cnei  filium 
ejus,  qui  in  Hispania  occidebatur,  adolescentem,  nondum  Quaes 
torem,  judicaverunt  in  tota  civitate  virum  optimum  esse. 

t  Hesiod.  1.  ]. 


147 

they  called  these  images  A/o^tc-t-/?,  [JDiope^e,]  that  is, 
"  sent  from  Jupiter."  Of  which  sort  were  the  Ancile, 
the  Palladium,  and  the  effigies  of  this  goddess,  con- 
cerning which  we  now  speak. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Who  was  Cybele  ? 
How  is  she  represented  ? 

In  what  does  slie  ride,  and  how  is  she  drawn' 
Why  are  her  garments  of  divers  colours? 
Why  is  she  called  Cybele  ? 
What  were  her  priests  called  ? 
Why  is  she  called  Ops  and  Rhea  ? 

Why  and  by  whom  is  she  called  Dindyme  and  Berecynthia  P 
What  was  she  called  by  the  Greeks,  and  why  ? 
What  does  the  name  of  Bona  Dea  imply  ? 
Who  was  Bona  Dea  ? 

Why  is  myrtle  prohibited  from  her  temple  ? 
What  was  observed  in  her  sacrifices,  and  why  ? 
What  was  the  saying  of  Plutarch  ? 
Why  was  Cybele  called  Idaia  Mater  ? 
Why  was  she  called  Pessinuntia  '! 

Why  were  her  priests  called  Galll ;  and  under  what  pretence 
were  they  able  to  get  particular  respect  paid  to  any  thing  ? 

SEC.  2.— OF   THE  SACEIFICES  AND  PRIESTS  OF 
CYSELE. 

Her  sacrifices,  hke  the  sacrifices  of  Bacchus,  were 
celebrated  with  a  confused  noise  of  timbrels,  pipes, 
and  cymbals  ;  and  the  sacrificants  liov.ded,  as  if  they 
were  mad ;  they  profaned  both  the  temple  of  their 
goddess,  and  the  ears  of  their  hearers,  v/ith  their  vile 
words  and  actions.  The  following  rites  were  pecu- 
liarly observed  in  her  sacrifices  :  her  temple  was  open- 
ed, not  by  hands,  but  by  prayers  ;  none  entered  who 
had  tasted  garlic  ;  the  priests  sacrificed  to  her  sitting, 
and  touching  the  earth,  and  ofiered  the  hearts  of  the 
victims.  And  lastly,  among  the  trees,  the  box  and 
tlie  pine-  were  sacred  to  her.  The  box,  because  the 
pipes  used  in  her  sacrifices  were  made  of  it :  the 
pine,  for  the  sake  of  Atys,  Attes,  or  Attynes,  a  boy 
that  Cybele  much  loved,  and  made  him  president  of 


148 

her  rites,  upon  condition  that  he  always  presei-ved 
his  chastity  invioJate.  But  he  forgot  his  vow,  and 
lost  that  virtue  ;  wherefore  the  offended  goddess 
tlirew  him  into  such  a  madness,  that  he  was  about 
to  lay  violent  hands  upon  himself,  but  Cybele,  in 
pity,  turned  him  into  a  phie. 

There  w^as,  however,  a  true  Atys,  the  son  of  Croe- 
sus, king  of  Lydia.  He  was  born  dumb  ;  but  when 
he  saw  in  the  fight  a  soldier  at  his  father's  back, 
with  a  sword  lifted  up  to  kill  him,  the  strings  of  his 
tongue,  which  hindered  his  speech,  burst ;  and  by 
speaking  clearly,  he  prevented  his  father's  destruc- 
tion. 

The  priests  of  Cybele  v/ere  named  Galli,  from  a 
river  of  Phrygia.  Such  was  the  nature  of  the  wa- 
ter of  this  river,  that  whoever  drank  of  it  immedi- 
ately grew  mad.  The  Galli,  as  often  as  they  sacri- 
ficed, furiously  cut  and  slashed  their  arms  with 
knives  ;  and  thence  all  furious  and  mad  people  were 
called  Galantes.  Beside  the  name  of  Galli,  they 
were  also  called  Curetes,  Corybantes,  Telchines, 
Cablri,  find  Idsei  Dactyli.  Some  say  that  these 
priests  were  different  from  the  Galli ;  but  most  peo- 
ple believe  them  to  be  the  same,  and  say  that  they 
were  priests  of  Cybele. 

The  Curetes  were  either  Cretans,  or  jEtolians,  or 
Euboeans  :  and  had  their  names  from  shaving ;  so 
that  Curetes  and  Detonsi  signify  almost  the  same 
thing.  For  they  shaved  the  hair  of  their  heads  be- 
fore, but  wore  hair  behind,  that  they  might  not  be 
taken  (as  it  has  often  happened)  by  the  forelocks, 
by  the  enemy ;  or,  perhaps  they  were  called  Cure- 
tes, ^because  they  were  habited  in  long  vests,  like 
young  maidens  5  or  lastly,  ybccause  they  educated 
Jupiter  in  his  infancy. 

*  Kwo  Tm  Kiifiy,;,  a  puella,  quod  pnellarum  stolam  inditebant. 
t  Ato  Tni  KopoT^ofla.;,  ab  educatioiie  ju-venum,   quod  Jovem 
infantem  aluisse  perhibcntur,    Strabo. 


149 

Her  priests  were  also  called  Corybantes  ;  because 
in  the  sacrifices  of  their  goddess  they  tossed  their 
heads  and  danced,  and  butted  with  their  foreheads 
like  rams,  after  a  mad  fashion.  Thus,  when  they 
initiated  any  one  into  their  sacrifices,  ^they  placed 
him  in  a  chair,  and  danced  about  him  like  fools. 

Another  name  of  her  priests  was  Telchines. 
These  were  famous  magicians  and  enchanters ;  and 
they  came  from  Crete  to  Cyprus,  and  thence  into 
Rhodes,  which  latter  island  was  called  Telchines 
fi-om  them.  Or,  if  we  believe  others,  they  were  de- 
serving men,  and  invented  many  arts  for  the  good  of 
the  public,  and  first  set  up  the  statues  and  images  of 
the  gods. 

The  Cabiri,  or  Caberi,  so  called  from  Cabiri, 
mountains  of  Phrygia,  were  either  the  servants  of 
the  gods,  or  gods  themselves,  or  rather  daemons,  or 
the  same  with  the  Corybantes ;  for  the  people*s 
opinions  concerning  them  are  different. 

The  Idsei  Dactyli  were  the  servants  and  assistants 
of  Magna  Mater  ;  called  Idsei  from  the  mountain  Ida, 
where  they  lived ;  and  Dactyli  from  the  fingers,  for 
the  priests  were  ten,  Hke  the  fingers  :  they  served 
Rhea  every  where,  and  in  every  thing,  as  if  they 
were  fingers  to  her.  f  Yet  many  affirm,  that  there 
were  more  than  ten. 

(lUESTIO^'S  FOR  EX^Mm^TIOJi. 

How  were  the  sacrifices  of  Cybele  celebrated  ?  ' 

What  peculiar  rites  were  observed  in  them  ? 
W  hy  were  the  box  and  pine  sacred  to  Cybele  ? 
On  what  condition  was  Atys  made  president  of  her  rites,  and 
what  happened  to  him  on  his  breaking  his  vow  ? 
Who  was  the  true  Atys,  and  what  is  his  history  ? 
What  property  belonged  to  the  river  Gallus? 
What  was  the  origin  of  the  word  "  gallantes  ?" 

Awo  rev  xopvrrtiy,  a  cornibus  feriendo,  et  ficclvtit  incedendD 
Strabo.  1.  1.  Plato  in  Enthid. 

t  Digiti  enim  Qraece  dicuntur  txptrvXn, 
13* 


150 

What  other  names  have  been  given  to  the  priests  of  Cybele? 

From  what  did  the  Curetes  derive  their  name  ? 

From  what  circumstance  were  the  Corybantes  named? 

Who  were  the  Telchines  ? 

Who  were  the  Cabiri  ? 

Who  was  the  Idsei  Dactyli  ? 


CHAPTER  VUL 


SEC.  1.— CERES.  HER  IMAGE  AND  SACRIFICES. 

Ceres  is  a  tall  majestic  lady;  who  stands  beau- 
tified with  yellow  liair,  and  crowned  with  a  turban 
composed  of  the  ears  of  corn  ;  her  bosom  swells  with 
breasts  as  white  as  snow ;  her  right  hand  is  full  ot 
poppies  and  ears  of  corn,  and  in  her  left  is  a  lighted 
torch.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Saturn  and  Ops ; 
whose  singular  beauty  made  the  gods  themselves  her 
lovers  and  admirers.  Her  brothers  Jupiter  and  Nep- 
tune fell  in  love  with  her.  She  had  Proserpine  by 
Jupiter.  And  by  Neptune  it  is  uncertaian  whether 
she  was  the  mother  of  a  daughter,  or  a  horse  called 
Arion.  Upon  the  mountain  jEleus,  in  Arcadia,  an 
altar  was  dedicated  to  Ceres  ;  her  image  had  the 
body  of  a  woman,  but  the  head  of  a  horse ;  it  re- 
mained perfect  and  entire  in  the  midst  of  fire.  Yet 
others  have  told  us  that  Ceres  did  not  bring  forth 
a  horse,  but  a  daughter.  The  Arcadians  thought  it  a 
mcked  thing  to  call  this  daughter  by  any  other 
name  than  "  the  lady,"  or  "  the  great  goddess," 
which  were  the  usual  names  of  her  mother  Ceres. 

Ceres  was  greatly  ashamed  of  this  disgrace,  and 
testified  her  sorrow  by  the  mourning  clothes  which 
slpie  afterwards  wore  ;  whence  she  was  named  Melae- 
na,  MeXoctvu  nigra  ;  she  retired  into  the  dark  recess- 
es of  a  cave,  where  she  lay  so  privately  that  none  of 


151 

the  gods  knew  where  she  was,  till  Pan,  the  god  of  the 
woods,  discovered  her  by  chance,  and  told  Jupiter  ; 
who,  sending  the  Fates  to  her,  persuaded  her  at  last 
to  lay  aside  her  grief,  and  rise  out  of  the  cave, 
which  was  a  happy  and  joyful  thing  for  all  the  world. 
For  in  her  absence  a  great  infection  reigned  tlirough- 
out  all  sorts  of  living  creatures,  which  sprang  from 
the  corruption  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  the  gra- 
naries every  where.  She  is  the  goddess  of  the  fruits, 
and  her  name  is  derived  '^from  the  care  which  she 
exerts  in  producing  or  preserving  them.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  she  first  invented  and  taught  the  art  of 
tilling  the  earth,  and  sowing  corn,  and  of  making 
bread  therewith,  when  before  mankind  only  ate 
acorns. 

"  Prima  Ceres  unco  glebam  dimovit  aratro, 
Prima  dedit  fruges  alimentaque  mitia  terris, 
Prima  dedit  leges.     Cereris  sunt  omnia  munus." 

Ceres  was  she  who  first  our  furrows  plough'd ; 
Who  gave  sweet  fruits,  and  easy  food  aliow'd. 
Ceres  first  tam'd  us  with  her  gentle  laws  ; 
From  her  kind  hand  the  world  subsistence  draws. 

This  may  be  learned  from  Ovid,  who  tells  us  that 
Ceres  was  the  first  that  made  laws,  provided  whole- 
some food,  and  taught  the  art  of  husbandry,  of 
ploughing  and  sowing. 

For,  before  her  time,  the  earth  lay  rough  and  un- 
cultivated, covered  with  briers  and  unprofitable 
plants  ;  when  there  were  no  proprietors  of  land,  they 
neglected  to  cultivate  it ;  when  nobody  had  any 
ground  of  his  own,  they  did  not  care  to  fix  land- 
marks ;  but  all  things  were  common  to  all  men,  tiU 
Ceres,  who  had  invented  the  art  of  husbandry, 
taught  men  how  to  exercise  it ;  and  then  they  began 

•  Ceres  dicitur  quasi  Ceres  a  gerendis  fructibus :  aut  quasi  Se- 
rens,  vel  ab  antiquo  verbo  Cereo,  quod  idem  est  ac  Creo,  qucd 
cunctarum  frugum  creatrix  sit  et  altrix.     Cic.  Nat.  Deo.  2. 


152 

to  contend  and  dispute  about  the  limits  of  those 
fields  from  the  culture  of  which  they  reaped  so  much 
profit ;  and  hence  it  was  necessary  that  laws  should 
be  enacted  to  determine  the  rights  and  properties  of 
those  who  contended.  For  this  reason  Ceres  was 
named  the  foundress  of  laws:  and  hence  she  is 
crowned  with  corn. 

1.  Ceres  is  beautiful  and  well  shaped;  because 
tlie  earth,  which  she  resembles,  appears  beautiful 
and  delightful  to  the  beholders ;  especially  when  it 
is  arrayed  with  plants,  diversified  with  trees,  adorn- 
ed with  flowers,  enriched  with  fruits,  and  covered 
Ti^'ith  greens  ;  when  it  displays  the  honours  of  spring, 
and  pours  forth  the  gifts  of  autumn  with  a  bountiful 
hand. 

2.  Her  hair  is  yellow,  and  w^hen  the  ears  of  com 
are  ripe,  they  are  adorned  with  a  golden  colour. 

3.  Her  breasts  swell  with  milk,  whence  she  is 
styled  Mammosa  sometimes,  ^because,  after  the  earth 
is  impregnated  with  seed,  and  big  with  the  fruit 
thereof,  it  brings  forth  all  things  out  of  itself  in 
abundance,  and  like  a  mother,  feeds  and  nourishes 
us  ;  and  hence  she  is  called  f  Alma,  and  JAltrix 
Nostra. 

4.  She  holds  a  lighted  torch,  because,  when  Pro- 
serpine was  stolen  away  by  Rluto,  her  mother  ||Ce* 
res  was  greatly  afilicted  at  the  loss  of  her  daughter 
and,  being  very  desirous  to  find  her  again,  she  kind- 
led her  torches  with  the  flames  which  burst  from  the 
mountain  Mtna. ;  and  with  them  sought  her  daughter 
through  the  whole  world. 

5.  She  carries  poppy,  because,  when  through 
grief  she  could  not  obtain  the  least  rest  or  sleep,  Ju- 
piter gave  her  poppy  to  eat :  for  this  plant  is  endu- 
ed with  a  power  to  cause  sleep  and  forgetfulness. 
Her  grief  was  a  little  allayed  by  sleep,  but  she  far* 

•  Cic.  Nat.  Deor.  2  and  3.        f  Virg.  Geo.  1. 
X  Cic.  Nat.  Deor.  2,  jj  Cic.  in  Verrem. 


153 

got  not  her  loss,  and,  after  many  voyages  and  joujv 
neys,  she  at  last  heard  where  Proserpine  was  ;  as  we 
shall  hear  in  its  proper  place. 

We  often  *see  a  young  man  sitting  in  a  chariot 
drawn  by  flying  serpents.  It  is  Triptolemiis,  in  the 
chariot  wliich  Ceres  gave  him.  He  was  the  son  of 
Celeus,  king  of  Eleusis  in  Attica.  Ceres  brought 
him  up  from  his  infancy,  upon  this  occasion  :  while 
she  was  seeking  Proserpine  by  sea  and  land,  upon 
the  w'ay  she  came  into  the  city  Eleusis,  where  king 
Celeus  entertained  her  5  whose  kindness  she  requited 
by  bringing  up  his  young  son,  whom,  in  the  day  time 
she  fed  with  celestial  and  divine  milk,  but  in  the 
night  covered  him  all  over  with  fire.  The  child  in 
a  lew  days  became  a  beautiful  young  man  by  this 
extraordinary  manner  of  education.  Meganira,  his 
mother,  greatly  wondering  at  this  speedy  progress,  was 
very  desirous  to  know  how  Ceres  dealt  with  her  son ; 
she  therefore  looked  through  a  small  hole,  and  saw 
Ceres  cover  her  son  Triptolemus  with  burning  coal. 
This  affrighted  her  so,  that  she  cried  out  that  Ceres 
was  murdering  her  son ;  and  ran  into  the  room  to  save 
him.  Ceres  punished  her  imprudent  curiosity  w^ith 
death  ;  then  putting  Triptolemus  into  a  splendid  cha- 
riot, she  sent  him  throughout  the  world,  to  show 
mankind  the  use  of  corn.  He  executed  her  com- 
mands so  faithfully,  and  taught  men  the  art  of  hus- 
bandry, of  sowing,  reaping,  and  of  thrashing  the 
corn  so  well,  that  hence  he  obtained  his  name  *Trip- 
tolemus.  Ovid  gives  us  an  excellent  description  of 
this  in  the  fifth  book  of  his  Metamorphoses. 

Ceres  once  changed  a  boy  into  a  lizard  :  for,  be- 
ing very  w^ary  with  travelling,  and  thirsty,  she  came 
to  a  cottage,  and  begged  a  little  water  to  v/ash  her 
mouth,  of  an  old  woman  that  lived  there  ;  the  old 
woman  no-t  only  gave  her  water,  but  also  barley 

•  Triptolemus  dictilur  quasi  rfi^Kt  vas  sXaj,  id  est,  hordeuiQ 
terens.    Hygin.  fac.  147. 


154 

broth ;  which,  when  the  goddess  took  greedily,  the 
woman's  son,    Stellio,    a   saucy  boy,  mocked  her.  ' 
This  so  raised  Ceres'  indignation,  that  in  a  rage  she 
flung  some  of  the  broth  into  the  boy's  face,  who  was 
thereby  changed  into  an  evet,  or  hzard. 

We  may  notice  here  Erisichthon,  who,  in  con- 
tempt of  the  sacrifices  of  Ceres,  defJed  her  groves, 
and  cut  down  one  of  her  oaks ;  for  which  he  was 
punished  with  perpetual  hunger :  so  that,  when  he 
has  devoured  all  the  meat  and  food  which  he  can  by 
any  means  procure,  he  is  forced  to  eat  his  own  flesh 
to  support  his  body  ;  and  to  bring  upon  himself  a 
horrible  death,  the  better  to  sustain  life. 

Among  all  the  Cerealia,  or  sacrifices  instituted  to 
tlie  honour  of  Ceres,  these  which  follow  are  the  chief: 

1.  The  Eleusian  mysteries  were  of  two  sorts,* 
tlie  greater  and  the  lesser  ;  one  qualification  requisite 
to  both  was  to  be  able  to  keep  a  great  secret.  Though 
Triptole.iius  had  appointed  that  no  stranger  should 
be  initiated  into  the  great  mysteries,  yet  Hercules, 
to  whom  thev  durst  refuse  nothing,  demanded  to  be 
admitted  to  them,  and  upon  his  account  other  cere- 
monies were  instituted,  which  they  called  the  lesser 
mysteries,  and  these  were  celebrated  afterwards  at 
Agra  and  Athens.  Those  who  were  ambitious  to  be 
admitted  to  them,  repaired  to  this  place  in  the  month 
of  November,  sacrificed  to  Jupiter,  and  kept  the 
skins  of  the  victims  to  lay  upon  their  feet  when  they 
were  purified  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  Ilissus. 
We  know  not  exactly  what  sort  of  ceremonies  were 
made  use  of  in  those  purifications.  These  lesser 
mysteries   served  as  a  preparation  for  the  greater 

*  Mr.  Tooke  is  very  brief  on  the  subject  of  the  Eleusinian 
mysteries,  which  were  the  most  important  mentioned  in  the 
history  of  the  ancient  rites;  and  as  many  fancy  that  the  an- 
cient order  of  Free  Masonrjj  is  a  branch  of  the  Eleusinian  order, 
we  have  thought  proper  here  to  give  a  more  full  account  of 
these  cerealia  than  can  be  found  in  any  edition  of  Tooke's  Pan- 
Uieon  heretofore  published     Am.  Ed. 


155 

ones,  whicli  were  celebrated  at  Eleusis  ;  and  hy 
their  means  persons  were  initiated  into  the  secret  ce- 
remonies of  Ceres.  After  having  passed  through  a 
good  many  trials,  the  person  was  Mystes,  that  is, 
qualified  for  being  very  soon  initiated  into  the  great- 
er Mysteries,  and  to  become  Epoptes,  or  the  witness 
of  the  most  secret  mysteries,  which  were  not  procu- 
red till  after  five  years  probation ;  during  which  he 
might  enter  into  the  vestibule  of  the  temple,  but  not 
into  the  sanctuary. 

When  one  was  initiated,  he  was  introduced  by 
night  into  the  temple,  after  having  his  hands  wash- 
ed at  the  entry,  and  a  crown  of  myrtle  put  upon  him. 
Then  was  opened  a  little  box  wherein  were  the  laws 
of  Ceres,  and  the  ceremonies  of  her  mysteries  5  and 
after  having  given  him  these  to  read,  he  was  made 
to  transcribe  them.  A  slight  repast,  in  memory  of 
that  wiiich  the  goddess  liad  got  from  Baubo,  suc- 
ceeded this  ceremony ;  after  which  the  Mystes  en- 
tered into  the  sanctuary,  over  which  the  priest  drew 
the  veil,  and  then  all  was  in  darkness  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye.  A  bright  light  succeeded  and  ex- 
hibited to  view  the  statue  of  Ceres  magnificently 
adorned  ;  find  while  they  were  attentive  in  consider- 
ing it,  the  light  again  disappeared,  and  all  was  once 
more  wrapped  in  profound  darkness.  The  peals  of 
thunder  that  were  heard,  the  lightnings  that  flashed 
from  all  hands,  the  thunder  that  broke  in  the  midst 
of  the  sanctuary,  and  a  thousand  monstrous  figures 
lliat  appeared  on  all  sides,  filled  the  initiated  with 
horror  and  consternation  ;  but  the  next  moment  a 
calm  succeeded,  and  there  appeared  in  broad  day 
light  a  charming  meadow,  where  all  came  to  dance 
and  make  merry  together. 

It  is  probable  that  this  meadow  v/as  in  a  place  en- 
closed with  walls  behind  the  sanctuary  of  the  temple, 
which  they  opened  all  of  a  sudden,  when  the  day- 
light was  let  in  ;  and  this  scene  appeared  tlie  more 


156 

agreeable,  that  it  succeeded  a  night  when  nothing 
but  doleful  and  liideous  objects  were  to  be  seen. 
There  it  was  that  amidst  jollity  and  mirth,  all  the 
secrets  of  tlic  mysteries  were  revealed.  But  after  all, 
we  knovr  not  well  what  passed  there,  these  myste- 
ries having  been  long  kept  an  impenetrable  secret; 
and  had  it  not  been  for  some  libertines,  who  got 
themselves  initiated  in  order  to  divulge  them,  they 
had  never  been  brought  to  light.  In  both  the  greater 
and  the  lesser,  a  perpetual  and  wonderful  silence  was 
observed  :  to  publish  any  thing  concerning  them  was 
a  crime,  hence  came  the  proverb  concerning  silent  per- 
sons, Amy,!/.  E^svTivcc  [Attica  Eleusina^  and  the  word 
tnysterium  signifies  a  "  religious  rite,"  from  f^vcj  [muo^ 
OS  claudo.  This  much  is  true,  that  the  greatest 
modesty,  and  even  a  pretty  severe  chastity  was  ex- 
acted from  the  mystae  and  women  who  presided 
over  tiie  feasts  of  this  goddess.  The  purifications 
and  oblation  that  were  practised,  would  make  one 
iiiiagine  they  were  not  so  dissolute  as  some  authors 
kave  alleged ;  unless  we  will  say  that  the  abuses 
which  the  fathers  of  the  church  speak  of  were  not 
In  the  primitive  institution,  but  had  only  crept  into 
them  afterwards.  This  night  being  spent  in  these 
ceremonies,  the  priest  dismissed  the  assembly  with 
some  barbarous  words,  which  shows  that  they  had 
been  instituted  by  people  v/ho  spoke  another  lan- 
guage, namely,  by  the  Egyptians. 

After  having  spoke  of  the  initiated,  we  must,  be* 
fore  we  be  done,  say  something  of  the  ministers  who 
officiated  in  the  festivals.  The  first  was  a  Jliero 
phantes  or  a  Mystagogos,  that  is,  a  man  who  shows 
the  sacred  things,  and  the  initiated  Avere  not  per- 
mitted to  mention  his  name  to  the  profane.  The 
second  was  a  Daduchus,  or  Torch-Bearer.  The 
third  a  Sacred  Herald.  The  fourth  a  Minister  of 
the  Aliar  ;  this  was  a  young  man  who  put  up  pray- 
ers in  behalf  of  the  assembly,  and  was  subject  to  the 


157 

superior  ministers.  Besides  these  four  ministers 
there  were  two  prophets  to  do  sacrifice,  and  five 
delegates,  to  see  that  all  things  were  performed  in 
order ;  the  first  was  called  the  king,  and  the  other 
four  Epimeletes. 

The  Thesmophoria  was  instituted  by  Triptole- 
mus  ;  and  those  women  who  vowed  perpetual  chas- 
tity were  initiated  in  them.  For  some  days  a  fast 
was  kept ;  and  wine  was  altogether  banished  from 
her  altar  ;  whence  this  expression  came,  Cereri  nup- 
Has  facere^  which  (among  the  ancients)  signifies  a 
least  where  there  was  no  wine.  Swine  were  sacri- 
ficed to  this  goddess,  because  they  hurt  the  fruits  of 
the  earth : 


"  Prima  Ceres  avid©  gavisa  est  sanguine  porcSB, 
Ulta  suas  merita  casde  nocentes  opes."     Ovid  Fast,  l, 

Ceres  with  blood  of  swine  we  best  atone, 
Wiiich  thus  requite  the  mischief  they  have  done. 

And  garlands,  composed  of  ears  of  corn,  were  oA 
fered  to  her : 


"  Flava  Ceres,  tibi  sit  nostro  de  rure  corona 
Spicea,  quae  templi  pendeat  ante  fores."     Tibullvs. 

To  thee,  fair  goddess,  we'll  a  garland  plait 
Of  ears  of  corn,  to  adorn  thy  temple  gate. 

Ambarvalla  were  instituted  to  purge  the  fields, 
and  to  beg  fruitfulness  and  plenty.  They  were  so 
called,  because  the  sacrifices  were  led  about  the  fields; 
as  the  suburbs  ^amburbia]  were  esteemed  sacred, 
because  the  sacrifice  was  carried  round  the  city.-- 
These  sacrifices  were  performed  by  husbandmen, 
who  carried  a  sow  with  yoking,  or  a  cow-calf,  through 
the  corn  and  the  hay,  in  the  beginning  of  harvest, 
tlirice  ;  the  countrymen  following  him  with  dancing 
and  leaping,  and  acclamations  of  joy,  till  all  the 
fields  rung  with  the  noise.  In  the  mean  time,  one 
14 


158 

of  tliem,  adorned  with  a  crown,  sung  the  praises  of 
Ceres ;  and  after  they  had  ofiered  an  oblation  of 
wine  mixed  with  lioney  and  milk  before  they  began 
to  reap,  they  sacrificed  tlie  cow  to  her.  The  rites  of 
tlie  Ambarvalia  are  beautifully  described  by  Virgil : 

"  Cuncta  tibi  Cererem  pubes  agrestis  adoret: 
Cul  tu  lacte  favos,  el  miti  dilue  Baccho, 
Terque  novas  circum  felix  eat  hostia  fruges ; 
Omiiis  qiiain  chorus  et  socii  coniitantur  ovantes, 
Et  Cererem  clamore  vocent  in  tecta  :  neque  ante 
Falcem  maturis  quisqiiam  supponat  aristis, 
Quam  Cereri,  torla  redimitus  tempora  quercu, 
Det  motus  incompositos,  et  carmina  dicat."     Geo.  1« 

Let  ev'ry  swain  adore  her  power  divine, 
And  milk  and  honey  mix  with  sparkling  wine: 
Let  all  the  choir  of  clowns  attend  this  show, 
In  long  procession,  shouting  as  they  go; 
Invoking  her  to  bless  their  yearly  stores, 
Inviting  plenty  to  their  crowded  floors. 
Tims  in  the  spring,  and  thus  in  summer's  heat, 
Before  the  sickles  touch  the  rip'ning  wheat, 
On  Ceres  call ;  and  let  the  lab'ring  hind 
"With  oaken  wreaths  his  hollov/  temples  bind: 
On  Ceres  let  him  call,  and  Ceies  praise, 
With'^xncouth  dances,  and  with  country-lays. 

qUESTIOKS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

tlow  is  Ceres  represented  ? 

Who  is  she,  and  who  were  her  brothers  ? 

What  kind  of  altar  was  dedicated  to  her  on  the  mountain 
;Eleus  ? 

What  were  the  usual  names  of  her  mother  Ceres? 

Why  was  she  named  Melajna? 

Where  did  she  conceal  herself ;  who  discovered  her ;  andwbo 
persuaded  her  to  come  out  of  her  retirement  ? 

What  happened  to  the  v.-orld  during  her  absence  ? 

What  inventiof.s  are  ascribed  to  her  ? 

In  what  respects  does  she  resemble  the  earth  ? 

Why  does  she  carry  a  poppy  ? 

What  is  the  history  of  Triptolemus  ? 

What  is  the  history  of  Stellio  ? 

What  is  the  history  of  Eri.sichthon  ? 

What  were  the  Elensinia' 

From  what  is  the  word  ''  mystery"  derived? 

Who  instituted  the  Thesmophoria,  and  who  were  initiated  ta 
Uim  ? 


;Cts£ 


OF  TIIE 


UFI7ER 


suufy> 


II M, ■',.,, I,  I 


mw^m 


159 

Why  were  the  Ambarvalia  instituted  ? 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Virgil  in  which  these  sacrifices  are  d« 
scribed. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


SEC.  1.— THE  MUSES.     THEIR  IMAGE,  NAMES,  AND 

NUMBER. 

Tke  mnses  are  nine  virgins,  crowned  with  palms ; 
their  dress  is  decent  and  becoming.  They  sit  to- 
gether in  the  shade  of  a  laurel  arbour.  Some  of  them 
play  on  the  harp,  some  upon  the  cithern,  some  upon 
the  pipe,  some  upon  the  cymbal,  and  some  harmo- 
niously sing  and  play  at  once.  Methinks  I  hear 
them  with  united  minds,  voices,  and  hands,  make  an 
agreeable  concord  arise  from  their  diiierent  instru- 
ments, governing  their- several  voices  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  produce  the  most  noble  harmony. 

They  are  the  mistresses  of  all  the  sciences,  the 
presidents  of  the  musicians  and  poets,  and  the  go- 
vernors of  the  feasts  and  solemnities  of  the  gods. 
They  are  the  daughters  of  Jupiter  and  the  nymph 
Mnemosyne,  and  were  born  on  the  mountain  Picri- 
us.  Some  affirm  that  they  had  other  parents,  and 
ancient  writers  say,  that  they  lived  before  Jupiter, 
and  were  the  daughters  of  Coelum.  They  are  call- 
ed the  daughters  of  Jupiter  and  Mnemosyne  (which 
in  Greek  signifies  "  memory,")  because  all  students 
and  scholars  ought  not  only  to  have  great  ingenuity, 
but  ready  memories. 

The  Musee  were  formerly  called  Mosge,  and 
were  so  named  from  a  *Greek  word  that  signifies 
"  to  inquire,"  because  men,  by  inquiring  of  them 

•  'Aara  tv  f/u(rai,  id  est,  ab  inquirendo.     Plalo  in  Cratylo. 


160 

learn  the  things  of  which  they  were  before  ignorant. 
But  others  say,  they  had  their  name  from  ^their 
resemblance,  because  there  is  a  similitude,  and  an 
affinity  and  relation  between  all  the  sciences  ;  in 
which  they  agree,  and  are  united  with  one  another. 
Wherefore  the  Muses  are  often  painted  with  their 
hands  joined;  dancing  in  a  ring;  in  the  middle  of 
lliem  sits  Apollo,  their  commander  and  prince.  The 
pencil  of  nature  described  them  in  that  manner  upon 
the  agate  which  Pjrrhus,  who  made  war  against  the 
Romans,  wore  in  a  ring  ;  for  in  it  was  a  representa- 
tion of  the  nine  Muses,  and  Apollo  holding  a  harp  : 
and  these  figures  were  not  delineated  by  art,  but  by 
the  spontaneous  handywork  of  nature :  and  the 
veins  of  the  stone  were  formed  so  regularly,  that 
every  idiise  had  her  particular  distinction. 

They  had  each  a  name  derived  from  some  parti- 
cular accomplishment  of  their  minds  or  bodies. 

The  first,  Calliope,  was  so  called  from  fthe  sweet- 
ness of  her  voice  ;  she  presides  over  rhetoric,  and  is 
esteemed  the  most  excellent  of  all  the  nine. 

The  second,  Clio,  is  so  named  from  Jglory.  For 
she  is  the  historical  Muse,  and  takes  her  name  from 
the  excellence  of  the  things  she  records. 

The  third,  Erato,  has  her  name  from  §love,  be- 
cause she  sings  of  amours,  or  because  learned  men 
are  beloved  and  praised  by  others.  She  is  also 
called  Saltatrix;  for  she  first  invented  the  art  of 
dancing,  over  v.hich  she  presided.  She  was  also 
the  inventress  of  poetr}^ 

The  fourth,  Thalia,  from  ||her  gayety,  briskness, 

*  Mtiircii,  quasi  eftoavffx,:,  id  est  similes.     Cassiodor 

t  'Asro  T'/i;  xx/.»;  oTtii  a  suavitats  vocis. 

'A^ro  m  kXus;,  a  gloria  sc.  rerum  gestarum  quas  memo.  Schol 
Ap.  I. 

§  'Ato  th  ipcoroi,  ab  more.     Ovid  Art.  Am.  2. 

IJ  'AfTo  Tis^aXXiiv,  id  est,  virere,  germinare ;  et  florere.  Procl 
in  Hesiod. 


161 

and  pleasantry.     Some  ascribe  to  her  the  invention 
of  comedy,  others  of  geometry. 

The  fifth,  Melpomene,  from  ^the  excellency  of  her 
song  and  the  melody  she  makes  when  she  sings. 
Slie  is  supposed  to  have  presided  over  tragedy,  and 
to  have  invented  sonnets. 

The  sixth,  Terpsichore,-}-  has  her  name  from  the 
pleasure  she  takes  in  dancing,  because  she  delights 
in  balls.     Some  call  her  Citharistria. 

The  seventh,  Euterpe,  or  Euterpia,  from  Jthe 
sweetness  of  her  singing.  Some  call  her  Tibicina, 
because,  according  to  them,  she  presides  over  the 
pipes  :  and  some  say  logic  was  invented  by  her. 

The  eighth,  Polyhymnia,  or  Pol^aimia,  or  Poly- 
menia,  from  <5>her  excellent  memory  :  and  therefore 
the  invention  of  writing  history  is  attributed  to  her, 
which  requires  a  good  memor}'.  It  was  owing  to 
her,  II that  the  songsters  add  to  the  verses  that  they 
sing,  hands  and  fingers  which  speak  more  than  the 
tongue  ;  an  expressive  silence  ;  a  language  without 
words  J  in  short,  gesture  and  action. 

The  ninth,  ITUrania,  was  so  called  either  because 
she  sings  of  divine  things  ;  or  because,  through  her 
assistance,  men  are  praised  to  the  skies,  or  because, 
by  the  sciences,  they  become  conversant  in  the  con- 
templation of  celestial  things. 

Bahusius,  a  modern  poet,  has  comprised  the  names 
of  all  the  Muses  in  a  distich ;  that  is,  he  has  made 
the  nine  Muses  to  stand,  which  is  something  strange, 
but  upon  eleven  feet.     Perhaps  you  will  remember 


*  A  iA,i,'k-s:o(ji,a.t  canto  et  modulor,  vcl  d-sso  ts  (ji,iXos  "ssonn  con- 
centum  facere. 

t  'A.*o  T£:!T£(VTaij  ;^;;o^9;j  quod  clioreis  delectetur. 

X  Ab  tvrifs^t)?,  jucunda  nempe  in  concentu. 

§  AzffoXv;   multus  et  iJt,niot,  memoria. 

II  Quod  carminibus  additae  sint  orchestrarura  loquacissimae  ma- 
nus,  linquosi  digiti,  silentium  clamosum,  expositio  tacita,  uno 
yerbo  gestus  et  actio. 

H  AiTa  Tn  if?av»,  a  ccelo. 
14* 


162 

their  names  better,  when  they  are  thus  joined  to- 
gether in  two  verses  : 

"  Calliope,  Polymneia,  Erato,  Clio,  atque  Thalia, 
Melpomene,  Euterpe,  Terpsichore,  Urania."     /.  4.  ep.  1. 

The  most  remarkable  of  the  names  which  are  com- 
mon to  tliem  all  are  : 

Heliconides,  or  Heliconiades,  from  the  momitaia 
Helicon,  in  Boeotia. 

Parnassides,  from  the  momitain  Parnassus,  in 
Phocis,  which  has  two  heads,  where,  if  any  person 
slept,  he  presently  became  a  poet.  It  was  anciently 
called  Larnassus,  from  Larnace,  the  ark  of  Deu- 
calion, which  rested  here,  and  was  named  Parnassus 
after  the  flood,  from  an  inhabitant  of  this  mountain, 
so  called. 

Citherides,  or  Citheriades,  from  the  mountain  Ci- 
ther on,  where  they  dwelt. 

Aonides,  from  the  country  Aonia. 

Pierides,  or  Pierise,  fom  the  mountain  Pierus,  or 
Pieria,  in  Thrace ;  or  from  the  daughters  of  Pierius 
ajid  Anippe,  who,  daring  to  contend  with  the  Muses, 
were  changed  into  pies. 

Pegasides  and  Hippocrenides,  from  the  famous 
fountain  Helicon,  which  by  the  Greeks  is  called 
*Hippocrene,  and  by  the  Latins,  fCaballinus,  both 
which  words  signify  the  horse's  fountain :  it  was 
also  named  Pegaseius,  from  Pegasus,  the  winged 
horse,  which  by  striking  a  stone  in  this  place  with 
his  foot,  opened  the  fountain,  Jand  the  waters  be- 
came vocal. 

Aganippides,  or  Aganippeae,  from  the  fomitain 
Aganippe. 

Castalides,  from  the  fountain  Castalius,  at  the 
foot  of  Parnassus. 

•  Ab  nsr-xos  eques,  et  «/:»}v»j  tons. 

t  Caballinus,  a  Caballus,  id  estj  equus, 

j  Ovid  Met.  5. 


163 

Some  write,  that  there  were  but  three  in  the  be- 
ginning ;  because  sound,  out  of  which  all  singing  is 
*brmed,  is  naturally  threefold :  either  made  by  the 
voice  alone  ;  or  by  blowing,  as  in  pipes,  or  by 
striking,  as  in  citherns  or  drums.  Or  it  may  be. 
because  there  are  three  tones  of  the  voice,  or  other 
instruments,  the  bass,  the  tenor,  and  the  treble.  Or 
lastly,  because  all  the  sciences  are  distributed  into 
three  general  parts  ;  philosophy,  rhetoric,  and  ma- 
thematics ;  and  each  of  these  parts  is  subdivided 
into  three  other  parts  ;  philosophy  into  logic,  ethics, 
and  physics ;  rhetoric  into  the  demonstrative,  de- 
liberative, and  judicial  kind  :  mathematics  into  mu- 
sic, geometry,  and  arithmetic  :  and  hence  it  came 
to  pass,  that  they  reckoned  not  only  Three  Muses, 
but  Nine. 

Others  give  a  different  reason  why  they  are  Nine. 
When  the  citizens  of  Sicyon  appointed  three  skilful 
artificers  to  make  the  statues  of  the  Three  Muses, 
promising  to  choose  those  three  statues  out  of  the 
nine  which  they  liked  best,  they  were  all  so  well 
made  that  they  could  not  tell  which  to  prefer ;  so 
that  they  bought  them  all,  and  placed  them  in  the 
temples  :  and  Hesiod  afterward  assigned  to  them 
the  names  mentioned  above. 

Some  affirm  that  they  were  virgins,  and  others 
deny  it,  who  reckon  up  their  children.  Let  no  per- 
son, however,  despise  the  Muses,  unless  he  design 
to  bring  destruction  upon  himself  by  the  example  of 
Thamyras  or  Thamyris  ;  who,  being  conceited  of 
his  beauty  and  skill  in  singing,  presumed  to  chal- 
lenge the  Muses  to  sing,  upon  condition,  that  if  he 
was  overcome,  they  should  punish  him  as  they  pleas- 
ed. And  after  he  was  overcome,  he  was  deprived 
at  once  both  of  his  harp  and  his  eyes. 

qUESTIOJYS  FOR  EXAMIN.iTION, 

Who  are  the  Muses,  and  how  are  they  dressed? 
What  is  their  employment  ? 


164 

Over  what  do  they  preside  ? 

Who  were  their  parents,  and  why  are  they  called  daughters 
of  Jupiter  and  Mnemosyne  ? 

Why  were  they  formerly  called  Mosae  ? 

How  were  the  Muses  represenled  on  Pyrrhus'  ring 

From  what  were  their  names  derived  ? 

How  did  Calliope  derive  her  name? 

Who  was  Clio  ? 

What  does  Erato  derive  her  name  from  ? 

Why  is  Thalia  so  called  ? 

What  are  the  peculiar  excellencies  of  Melpomene  and  Tcrpsi 
chore  ? 

In  what  does  Euterpe  excel  ? 

From  what  does  Polyhymnia  derive  her  name  ? 

Why  w-as  Urania  so  named  ? 

Repeat  the  distich  of  Bahusias. 

Give  some  account  of  the  names  common  to  all  the  Muses. 

How  many  Muses  were  there  at  first,  and  how  were  the  three 
converted  into  Nine  ? 

What  other  reason  is  given  ? 

What  should  the  example  of  Thamyris  teach  ? 


CHAPTER  X. 


THEMIS,  ASTRiEA,  NEMESIS, 

Are  three  goddesses,  who  contrive  and  consult 
together  on  affairs  of  great  moment. 

Themis,  the  first  of  them,  is  the  daughter  of  Coe- 
lum  and  Terra.  According  to  the  ^"signification  of 
her  name,  her  oftice  is  to  instruct  mankind  to  do 
things  honest,  just,  and  right.  Therefore  her  images 
were  brought  and  placed  before  those  who  were 
about  to  speak  to  the  people,  that  they  might  be  ad- 
monished thereby  to  say  nothing  in  public  but  what 
was  just  and  righteous.  Some  say  she  spoke  ora- 
cles at  Delphi,  before  Apollo ;  though  Homer  says, 
that  she  served  Apollo  with  nectar  and  ambrosia. 
There  was  another  Themis,  of  whom  Justice,  Law, 

•  Qifjt,is  enim  significat  fas. 


165 

..nd  Peace,  are  said  to  be  born.  Heslod,  by  way 
of  eminence,  calls  her  modest,  because  she  was 
ashamed  to  say  any  thing  that  was  done  against 
right  and  equity.  Eusebius  calls  her  Carmenta; 
■'^because  by  lier  verse  and  precepts  she  directs  eve- 
ry one  to  that  wliich  is  just.  But  here  he  means  a 
different  Carmenta,  who  was  the  mother  of  Evander, 
otherwise  called  Themis  Nicostrata,  a  prophetical 
lady.  She  was  wo:'shipped  by  the  Romans,  because 
she  prophecied ;  and  was  called  Carmenta,  either 
from  the  verse  in  which  she  uttered  her  predictions, 
or  from  the  madness  which  seemed  to  possess  her 
when  she  prophecied.  To  this  lady  an  altar  was 
dedicated  near  the  gate  Carmentalis,  by  the  Capi- 
tol ;  and  a  temple  was  also  built  to  her  honour  upon 
this  occasion  :  When  the  senate  forbade  the  married 
women  the  use  of  litters  or  sedans,  they  combined 
together,  and  resolved  that  they  would  never  bring 
children,  unless  their  husbands  rescinded  that  edict : 
they  kept  to  this  agreement  witii  so  much  resolution, 
that  the  senate  was  obliged  to  change  their  sentence, 
and  yield  to  tiie  women's  will,  and  allow  them  all  se- 
dans and  chariots  again.  And  v/hen  their  wives 
conceived  and  brouglit  forth  fine  children,  they 
erected  a  temple  in  honour  of  Carmenta. 

Astrsea,  the  daughter  of  Aurora  and  Astraeus  the 
Titan,  (or,  as  others  say,  the  daughter  of  Jupiter 
and  Themis,)  v/as  esteemed  the  princess  of  Justice. 
The  poets  feign,  that  in  the  Golden  Age  she  de- 
scended from  heaven  to  the  earth ;  and  being  of- 
fended at  last  by  the  wickedness  of  mankind,  she 
returned  to  heaven  again,  after  all  the  gods  had 
gone  before  her.  She  is  many  times  directly  called 
by  the  name  of  Justitia ;  as  particularly  by  Virgil. 
And  when  she  had  returned  to  heaven  again,  she 
was  placed  where  we  now  see  the  constellation  Virgo. 

*  Quod  carminibus  edictisque  suis  praecipiat  unicuique  quod 
Justura  est.     Eusub.  Praep.  Evar.g.  1. 3. 


166 

The  parents  of  Nemesis  were  Jupiter  and  Neces- 
sity ;  or,  according  to  otliers,  Nox  and  Oceanus. 
She  was  the  goddess  that  rewarded  virtue,  and  pun- 
ished vice  :  and  she  taught  men  their  duty,  so  that 
she  received  her  name  *from  the  distribution  tliat 
she  made  to  every  body.  Jupiter  deceived  her,  as 
the  story  says,  in  the  shape  of  a  goose ;  and  that 
she  brought  forth  an  egg,  which  she  gave  to  a  shep- 
herd whom  she  met,  to  be  carried  to  Leda.  Leda 
laid  up  the  egi^  in  a  box,  and  Helena  was  soon  af- 
ter produced  of  that  egg.  But  others  give  us  quite 
diflerent  accounts  of  the  matter.  The  Romans  cer- 
tainly sacrificed  to  this  goddess,  when  they  went 
to  war  ;  whereby  they  signified  that  tl^-ey  never  took 
up  arms  unless  in  a  just  cause.  She  is  called  by 
another  name,  Adrastsea,  from  AdraruiA,  king  of 
tlie  Argives,  who  first  built  an  altar  to  her  ,  or,  per- 
haps from  j-tlie  diiiiculty  of  escaping  from  her :  be- 
cause no  guilty  person  can  flee  from  the  pi,'n!shment 
due  to  his  crime,  though  Justice  sometimes  over- 
takes him  late.  She  has  indeed  wings,  but  does  not 
always  use  them  ;  but  then  the  slower  her  foot  b, 
die  harder  is  her  hand : 


"  Ad  scelerum  pcenas  ultrix  veiiit  ira  tonantis, 
Hoc  graviore  manu,  quo  graviore  pede." 

Vengeance  divine  to  punisli  sin  moves  slow, 
The  slower  is  its  pace,  the  surer  is  its  blow. 


Rhamiiusia  is  another  name  of  this  goddess  ;  from 
Rhamnus,  a  town  in  Attica,  where  she  had  a  tem- 
ple, in  which  there  was  a  statue  of  her  made  of  one 
stone,  ten  cubits  high  ;  she  held  the  bough  of  an  ap- 
ple-tree in  her  hand,   and  had  a  crown  upon  her 

*  Awo  m  ifixa-rni-sDv  ifx,7;(Ttus,  a  distributione  quas  unicuique  sit 
Plato  de  Legibus  Dial. 

t  Ab  a  non  e(  o.lf.affKUj  fugio,  quod  videlicet  nerao  nocensiv 
efiugere  queat  pcenain  suit  scele'ibus  debitain. 


167 

bead,  In  which  many  images  of  deer  were  engraven. 
She  had  also  a  wheel,  which  denoted  her  swiftness 
when  she  avenges. 

qUESTIOA'S  FOR  EX.^MmATIOJf, 

Who  are  tlie  goddesses  that  are  consulting  together  on  im- 
portant bus'iness  ? 

Who  was  Themis  ;  and  what  was  her  business ;  and  why  weio 
Uer  images  placed  before  public  speakers  ? 

Who  were  the  cliildreti  of  the  other  Themis? 

Why  was  Themis  styled  modest  by  Hesiod ;  and  Carmentaby 
Eusebius  ? 

Wliy  was  a  temple  erected  in  honour  of  Carmenta  ? 

Who  was  Astra^a  ? 

Who  were  the  parents  of  Nemesis? 

What  did  the  Romans  sacrifice  to  her? 

Why  was  she  called  Adrastffia? 

Why  is  she  named  Rhamnusia  ? 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  GODS  OF  THE  WOODS,  AND  THE  RURAL  GODa 
PAN.  HIS  NAMES,  DESCENT,  ACTIONS,  he. 

We  are  now  come  to  the  images  of  the  gods  and 
goddesses  of  the  woods.  Here  you  may  see  the 
gods  Pan,  Silvaniis,  the  Faimi,  the  Satyri,  Silenus, 
Priapns,  Aristreus,  and  Terminus. 

And  there  you  see  the  goddesses,  Diana,  Pales, 
Flora,  Feronia,  Pomona,  and  an  innumerable  com- 
pany of  Nymphs. 

Pan  is  called  by  that  name,  either,  as  some  tell 
us,  because  he  exhilarated  the  minds  of  all  the  gods 
with  the  music  of  the  pipe,  winch  he  invented ;  and 
by  the  harmony  of  the  cithern,  upon  Vr  hich  he  play- 
ed skilfully  as  soon  as  he  was  born.  Or,  perhaps, 
he  is  called  Pan,  because  he  governs  the  affairs  of 


168 

the  universal  world  by  his  mind,  as  he  represents  it 
by  his  body. 

The  Latins  called  him  Inmis  and  Incubus,  the 
"  iiip,htuiare  ;"  and  at  Rome  he  was  worshipped, 
and  called  Lupercus  and  Lyceus.  To  his  honoui 
a  temple  was  built  at  the  foot  of  the  Palatine  hill, 
and  festivals  called  Lupercalia  were  instituted,  in 
which  his  priests,  the  Luperci,  ran  about  the  streets 
naked. 

His  descent  is  uncertain,  but  the  common  opinion 
IS,  that  he  was  born  of  Mercury  and  Penelope. 
For  when  Mercury  fell  violently  in  love  with  her, 
and  tried  in  vain  to  move  her,  at  last,  by  changing 
himself  into  a  white  goat,  succeeded.  Pan,  after  he 
was  born,  was  wrapt  up  in  the  skin  of  a  hare,  and 
carried  to  heaven. 

Ho  is  represented  as  a  horned  half  goat,  that  re- 
sembles a  beast  rather  than  a  man,  much  less  a  god. 
He  has  a  smiling,  ruddy  face,  his  nose  is  flat,  his 
beard  comes  down  to  his  breast,  his  skin  is  spotted, 
and  he  has  the  tail,  legs,  and  feet  of  a  goat ;  his 
head  is  crowned  or  girt  about  with  pine,  and  he 
holds  a  crooked  staff  in  one  hand,  and  in  the  other 
a  pipe  of  uneven  reeds,  with  the  music  of  which  he 
can  cheer  even  the  gods  themselves. 

When  the  Gauls,  under  Brennus,  their  leader, 
made  an  irruption  into  Greece,  and  were  just  about 
to  plunder  the  city  Delphi.  Pan,  so  terrific  in  ap- 
pearance, alarmed  them  to  such  a  degree,  that  they 
all  betook  themselves  to  flight,  though  nobody  pur- 
sued them.  Whence  we  proverbially  say,  that  men 
are  in  panic  fear,  when  we  see  them  aflrighted  witli- 
ont  a  cause. 

Now  hear  what  the  image  of  Pan  signifies.  Pan 
15  a  symbol  of  the  world.  In  his  upper  part  he  re- 
sembles a  man,  in  his  lower  part  a  beast ;  because 
the  superior  and  celestial  part  of  the  world  is  beau- 
tiful, radiant,  and  glorious  ;  as  is  the  face  of  this 


I'lfiit. 


vss^ 


'v'"^. 


'(      lRy»  ;i!'lk>  7^^'  ''s^'-vTv-l/    'V-'-'^' 


y^sf 


,^ 


169 

god,  whose  liorns  resemble  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
the  horns  of  the  moon  :  the  redness  of  his  face  is 
like  the  splendour  of  the  sky  ;  and  the  spotted  skin 
that  he  wears,  is  an  image  of  the  starry  firmament* 
In  his  lower  parts  he  is  shagged  and  deformed, 
which  represents  the  shrubs  and  wild  beasts,  and  the 
trees  of  the  earth  below  :  his  goats'  feet  signffy  the 
solidity  of  the  earth ;  and  his  pipe  of  seven  reeds, 
that  celestial  harmony  which  is  made  by  the  seven 
planets.  He  has  a  sheep-hook,  crooked  at  the  top, 
in  his  hand,  which  signifies  the  turning  of  the  year 
mto  itself. 

The  nymphs  dance  to  the  music  of  the  pipe; 
which  instrument  Pan  first  invented.  You  will  won- 
der when  you  hear  the  relation  which  the  poets  give 
to  this  pipe,  namely,  as  oft  as  Pan  blows  it,  the 
dugs  of  the  sheep  are  filled  with  milk  :  for  he  is  the 
god  of  the  shepherds  and  hunters,  the  captain  of  the 
nymphs,  the  president  of  the  mountains  and  of  a 
country  life,  and  the  guardian  of  the  flocks  that 
graze  upon  the  mountains  : 


''  Pan  curat  oves,  oviumque  magistros." 

Virg.  Ed.  2. 

Pan  loves  the  shepherds,  and  their  flocks  he  feeds. 

The  nymph  Echo  fell  in  love  with  him,  and  brought 
him  a  daughter  named  Iringes,  who  gave  Medea 
the  medicines  with  which  he  charmed  Jason.  He 
could  not  but  please  Dryope,  to  gain  whom,  he  laid 
aside  his  divinity  and  became  a  shepherd.  But  he 
did  not  court  the  nym-ph  Syrinx  with  so  much  suc- 
cess :  for  she  ran  away  to  avoid  her  lover ;  tiU 
coming  to  a  river  (where  her  flight  was  stopped,) 
she  prayed  the  Naiades,  the  nymphs  of  the  waters, 
because  she  could  not  escape  her  pursuer,  to  change 
feer  into  a  bundle  of  reeds,  just  as  Pan  was  laying 
hold  of  her,  who  therefore  caught  the  reeds  in  liis 
15 


170 

arms  instead  of  her.  The  winds  moving  these  reeds 
backward  and  forward  occasioned  mournful  but  mu- 
sical sounds,  which  Pan  perceiving,  he  cut  them 
down,  aad  made  of  them  reeden  pipes : 

"  Dumque  ibi  suspirat,  motos  in  arundine  ventos 
Eflecisse  sonum  tenuern,  similemque  querent!. 
Arte  nov^a,  vocisque  Deum  dulcedine  captum, 
Hoc  milii  concilium  tecum,  dixisse,  manebitj 
Atque  ita  disparibus  calamis  compagine  cerae 
Inter  se  junctis  nomen  tenuisse  puellse," 

He  sighs,  his  sighs  the  tossing  reeds  return 

In  soft  small  notes,  like  one  that  seem'd  to  mourny 

The  new,  but  pleasant  notes  the  gods  surprise, 

Yet  this  shall  make  us  friends  at  last,  he  cries: 

So  he  this  pipe  of  reeds  unequal  fram'd 

With  wax  ;  and  Syrinx  from  his  mistress  nam'd. 

But  Lucretius  ascribes  the  invention  of  these  pipes 
not  to  Pan,  but  to  some  countrymen,  who  had  ob- 
served, on  another  occasion,  the  whisthng  of  the  wuid 
through  reeds : 

*•  Zephyri  cava  per  calamorum  sibila  primum: 

Agrestes  docuere  cavas  inflare  cicutas  ; 

Inde  minutatim  dulces  didicere  querelas, 

Tibia  quas  fundit  digitis  pulsata  canentum: 

Avia  per  nemora  ac  sylvas  saltusque  reperta, 

Per  loca  pastorum  deserta  atque  otia  Dia."     LucT.  1.  5. 

And  while  soft  ev'ning  gales  blew  o'er  the  plains, 
And  shook  the  sounding  reeds,  they  taught  the  swains; 
•    And  thus  the  pipe  was  fram'd,  and  tuneful  reed: 
And  while  the  tender  flocks  securely  feed, 
And  harmless  shepherds  tune  their  pipes  to  love* 
And  Amaryllis  sounds  in  ev'ry  grove. 

In  the  sacrifices  of  this  god,  they  offered  to  him 
milk  and  honey  in  a  shepherd's  bottle.  He  was 
more  especially  worshipped  in  Arcadia,  for  which 
reason  he  is  so  often  called  Pan,  Deus  Arcadiae. 

Some  derive  from  him  Hispania,  Spain,  formerly 
called  Iberia  ;  for  he  lived  there,  when  he  returned 
from  the  Indian  war,  to  which  he  went  with  Bacchus 
and  the  Satyrs. 


x71 

qUESTIOjYS  FOR  EXAMLYATION. 

From  what  does  Pan  derive  his  name  ? 

What  Avas  he  called  by  the  Latins,  and  under  what  title  was 
he  worshipped  at  Rome  ? 

What  is  the  origin  of  Pan  ? 

How  is  he  represented  ? 

What  is  the  origin  of  the  phrase  "  panic-struck?" 

What  does  the  image  of  Pan  signify  ? 

What  instruments  did  he  invent,  and  what  occurs  when  he 
blows  his  pipe  ? 

■What  does  Lucretius  say  of  the  invention  of  the  pipes? 

Repeat  the  lines. 

What  were  used  in  the  sacrifices  of  Pan  ? 

Whence  is  he  derived  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SILVANUS  AND  SILE?WS. 

Although  many  writers  confound  Silvanus  the 
Fauni,  Satyri,  and  Sileni,  with  Pan,  yet,  as  others 
distinguish  them,  we  shall  treat  of  them  separately, 
and  begin  with  Silvanus. 

Silvanus,  who  is  placed  next  to  Pan,  with  the  feet 
of  a  goat,  and  the  face  of  a  man,  of  little  stature. 
He  holds  cypress  in  his  hand  stretched  out.  He  is 
so  called  from  silvce,  the  woods  ;  for  he  presides 
over  them.  He  loved  the  boy  Cyparissus,  who  had 
a  tame  deer,  in  which  he  took  great  pleasure.  Sil- 
vanus by  chance  killed  it ;  upon  which  the  youth 
died  for  grief.  Therefore  Silvanus  changed  him 
into  a  cypress-tree,  and  carried  a  branch  of  it  always 
in  his  hand,  in  memory  of  his  loss. 

Silenus  follows  next,  with  a  flat  nose,  bald  head^ 
large  ears,  and  a  small  flat  body  ;  he  derives  his 
name  from  his  jocular  temper,  because  he  perpetu- 
ally jests  upon  the  people.     He  sits  upon  a  saddle- 


172 

backed  ass  :  but  when  he  walks,  he  leans  upon  a 
staiF.  He  was  foster-father  to  Bacchus  his  master, 
and  his  perpetual  companion,  and  consequeiuly  was 
almost  always  drunk,  as  we  find  him  described  in  the 
sixth  Eclogue  of  Virgil.  Tlie  cup  which  he  and 
Bacchus  used,  was  called  Caiitharus ;  and  a  staff 
n'ith  which  he  supported  himself.  Ferula :  this  he 
ased  when  he  was  so  drunk,  as  it  often  happened 
hat  he  could  not  sit,  but  fell  from  his  ass. 

The  Satyrs  were  not  only  constant  companions  of 
Silenus,  but  were  assistants  to  him  j  tliey  held  him 
ai  great  esteem,  and  honoured  him  as  their  father; 
and  when  thej^  became  old,  they  were  called  Sileni 
•,oo.  And  concerning  Silenus'  ass,  they  say,  that 
We  was  translated  into  lieaven,  and  placed  among 
!he  stars ;  because  in  the  giant's  war,  Silenus  rode 
on  him,  and  helped  Jupiter  very  much. 

"  When  Silenus  v/as  asked,  "  What  was  the  best 
.hing  that  could  befall  man?"  he,  after  long  silence^ 
answered,  "  It  is  best  for  all  never  to  be  born,  but 
being  born,  to  die  very  quickly."  WMch  expres- 
.*ion  Fliny  reports  nearly  in  the  same  words :  f  There 
have  been  man}^  who  hare  judged  it  happy  never  to 
have  been  born,  or  to  die  immediately  after  one's 
birth. 

qUESTIOjXS  FOR  EXAMIJS'JiTIO.Y. 

How  is  Silvanus  represented? 
From  what  is  liis  name  derived  ?    * 

Wliy  is  he  represented  with  a  branch  of  cypress  in  his  hand? 
How  is  Silenus  represented  ? 
What  are  his  cap  and  statF  called? 
Who  were  his  companions  ? 
What  became  of  his  as«3  ? 

What  was  the  decision  of  Silenus  with  respect  to  the  bes4 
tiling  that  can  befall  man  ? 

*Rogatus  quidnam,  esset  hominibus  optimum:  respondit  om 
nibus  esse  optimum  non  nasci,  et  natos  quam  citissime  inteire 
Plut  in  Consolatione  Apol. 

t  Multi  extitere  qui  non  nasci,  optimum  censerunt,  aut  quam 
citissime  aboleri.    In  Prefat.  1.  7 


173 
CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  SATYRS,  FAUNS,  PRIAPUS,  ARISTJ=:US  TERMINUS. 

Behold  !  Those  are  Satyrs  who  dance  under  the 
shade  of  that  tall  and  spreading  oak ,  they  have 
heads  armed  with  horns,  goat's  feet  and  legs,  crook- 
ed hands,  and  tails  not  much  shorter  than  horses* 
tails.  There  is  no  animal  in  nature  more  libidi- 
nous than  these  gods.  Their  -name  itseli  shows 
their  nature. 

The  Fauns,  whom  you  see  joined  with  the  Satyrs, 
differ  trom  them  in  the  name  only  ;  at  least  they  are 
not  unlike  them  in  their  looks  :  for  they  have  hoois 
and  horns,  and  are  crowned  with  the  branches  of 
the  pine.  When  they  meet  drunken  persons,  they 
stupily  them  with  their  looks  alone.  The  boors  of 
the  country  call  them  the  "  rural  gods ;''  and  pay 
them  ihe  more  respect  because  they  are  armed  with 
horns  and  nails,  and  painted  in  terrible  shapes. 

Faunus,  or  Fatuellus,  was  the  son  of  Picus,  king 
of  the  Latins.  He  married  his  own  sister,  whose 
name  was  Fauna  or  Fatuella  :  he  consecrated  and 
made  her  priestess ;  after  which  she  had  the  gift  of 
prophecy.  History  likewise  tells  us  that  this  Fau- 
nus was  the  father  and  prince  of  the  other  Fauns  and 
Satyrs.  His  name  was  given  him  from  his  skill  in 
prophecying ;  and  thence  also  fatus  signifies  both 
persons  that  speak  rashly  and  inconsiderately,  and 
enthusiasts  ;  because  they  who  prophecy,  deliver  the 
mmd  and  will  of  another,  and  speak  things  which 
tliemselves,  many  times,  do  not  understand. 

Priapus,  painted  wic'a  a  sickle  in  his  hand,  was 
the  son  of  Venus  and  Bacchus,  born  at  Lampsacus ; 
from  whence  he  was  banished,  till  by  the  oracle's 

•  Satyrus  derivatur  a-^ro  Tti;  cahf  a  veretro.     Euseb.   Praep, 
Evan.  jg^ 


174 

command  he  was  recaikv!,  and  made  god  of  the 
gardens,  and  crowned  wit!^  garden  herbs.  He  car- 
ries a  sicide  hi  his  hand,  to  cut  ofl'  from  the  trees  all 
superfluous  boughs,  and  to  drive  away  diieves  and 
beasts,  and  mischievous  birds  ;  whence  he  is  called 
Avistupor.  His  image  is  usually  placed  in  gardens, 
as  we  may  learn  from  Tibullus,  Vn*gil,  and  Horace. 
He  is  railed  Hellespontiacus  by  the  poets ;  because 
tiie  city  Lampsacus,  where  lie  was  born,  was  situ- 
ate upon  tiie  Hellespont.  He  was  very  deformed, 
which  misfortune  was  occasioned  by  the  ill  usage 
that  his  modier  sudered  while  pregnant,  from  Juno. 
He  was  named  Priapus,  Phallus,  and  Fascinum, 
from  his  deformity.  All  these  names  have  an  in- 
decent signification  ;  though  by  some  he  is  called 
Bonus  Dfemon,  or  tlie  good  Genius. 

Aristasus ;  whom  you  see  busied  in  that  nursery  of 
olives,  supporting  and  improving  the  trees,  is  em- 
ployed in  drawing  oil  from  tlie  olive,  which  art  he 
first  invented.  He  also  found  out  the  use  of  honey, 
and  therefoi'e,  you  see  rows  of  bee-hives  near  him. 
For  these  two  profitable  inventions,  the  ancients 
paid  him  divine  honours. 

He  was  otherwise  called  Nomius  and  Agrfeus,  and 
was  the  son  of  Apollo  by  C\rene;  or,  as  Cicero 
says,  the  son  of  Liber  Pater,  educated  by  the  nymphs, 
and  taught  by  them  the  art  of  making  oil,  honey, 
and  cheese.  He  fell  in  love  with  Euridice,  the  wife 
of  Orpheus,  and  pursued  her  into  a  wood,  where  a 
serpent  stung  her  so  that  she  died.  On  this  account 
the  nymphs  hated  him,  ai:d  destroyed  all  hjs  bet- s  to 
revenge  the  death  of  Euridice.  The  loss  was  ex- 
ceedingly deplored  by  him  r  and  asking  his  mother's 
advice,  he  was  told  by  the^  oracle  that  he  ought  by 
sacrifices  to  appease  Euridice.  Wherefore  he  sacri- 
ficed to  her  four  bulls  and  four  heifers,  and  his  loss 
was  supplied  ;  for  suddenly  a  swarm  of  bees  burst 
forth  from  the  carcases  ol' the  bulls. 


175 

Another  god,  greatly  honoured  in  the  city  of 
Rome,  is  Teiininus,  because  they  imagine  that  the 
boundaries  and  limits  of  men's  estates  are  under  his 
protection.  His  name,  and  the  divine  honours  paid 
to  him  by  the  ancients,  are  mentioned  by  Ovid,  Ti- 
bidlus,  and  Seneca.  The  statue  of  this  god  was 
eidier  a  square  stone,  or  a  log  of  wood  planed ; 
which  they  usually  perfumed  with  ointment,  and 
crowned  with  garlands. 

And,  indeed,  the  Lapides  Terminales  (that  iS, 
*'  land-marks,")  were  esteemed  sacred  5  so  that  who- 
ever dared  to  move,  or  plough  up,  or  transfer  them 
to  another  place,  his  head  became  devoted  to  the 
Diis  Terminalibus,  and  it  was  lawful  for  any  body 
to  kill  him. 

And  lurther,  though  they  did  not  sacrifice  the  lives 
of  animals  to  those  stones,  because  they  though 
that  it  was  not  lawful  to  stain  them  with  blood ;  yet 
they  offered  wafer  made  of  flour  to  them,  and  the  first 
fruits  of  corn,  and  the  like  :  and  upon  the  last  day 
of  the  year,  they  always  observed  festivals  to  their 
honour,  called  Terminalia. 

qUESTIOA^S  FOR  EXAMUVATIOXi' 

How  are  the  Satyrs  represented  ? 

How  are  the  Fauns  represented,  and  what  are  they  called  by 
the  country-boors  ? 

What  does  history  say  of  Faunus  ? 

How  did  he  obtain  his  name  ? 

Who  was  Priapus,  and  where  was  he  born  ? 

How  is  he  represented,  and  for  what  is  the  sickle  in  his  hand? 

Why  was  he  called  Hellespontiacus? 

Where  is  his  image  placed? 

What  is  Aristaeus's  employment.'  ■>, 

What  did  he  invent? 

Why  was  he  called  Nomius?  ",  - 

What  is  the  story  of  Euridice?  4'. 

How  did  Terminus  derive  his  name  ' 

What  was  his  statue  ? 

What  is  raid  of  the  Lapides  Terminales  ? 

What  did  the  ancients  offer  as  sacrifices  to  these  stones? 


176 


CHAPTER  XIV, 

THE  GODDESSES  OF  THE  WOODS. 
DIANA. 

Hkiif:  comes  a  goddess,  taller  than  the  other  god- 
desses, in  whose  virgin  looks  we  may  ease  our  eyes, 
which  have  been  wearied  with  the  horrid  sight  of 
those  monstrous  deities.  Welcome,  Diana !  your 
hunting  habit,  the  bow  in  your  hand,  and  the  quiver 
full  of  arrows,  which  hang  down  from  your  should- 
ers, and  the  skin  of  a  deer  fastened  to  your  breast, 
discover  who  you  are.  Your  behaviour,  which  is 
free  and  easy,  but  modest  and  decent ;  your  gar- 
ments, which  are  handsome  and  yet  careless,  show 
that  you  are  a  virgin.  Your  name  indicates  your 
modesty  and  honour. 

Actseon,  the  son  of  Aristaeus,  the  famous  hunts- 
man, unfortunately  observing  you,  whilst  bathing, 
was  changed  into  a  deer,  which  was  afterwards  torn 
in  pieces  by  the  dogs. 

Furtlier  honour  is  due  to  you ;  because  you  repre- 
sent the  IMoon,  the  glory  of  the  stars,  and  the  only 
goddess  who  observed  perpetual  chastity. 

Nor  am  I  ignorant  of  that  tamous  and  deserving 
action  w  hich  you  did  to  avoid  tlie  flames  of  Alpheus, 
wlien  you  so  hastily  tied  to  your  nymphs,  who  were 
altogether  in  one  place ;  and  so  besmeared  both 
yourself  and  them  with  dirt,  that  when  he  came  he 
did  not  know  you  :  whereby  your  honest  deceit  suc- 
ceeded according  to  your  intentions ;  and  the  dirt 
which  injures  every  thing  else,  added  a  new  lustre 
to  your  virtue. 

Diajia  is  called  Triformis  and  Tergemina.  First, 
because  though  she  is  but  one  goddess,  yet  she  has 
three  difi'erent  names,  as  well  as  three  difi'erent  offi- 
ces.    In  the  heavens  she  is  called  Luna ;    on  the 


DlM^t^ 


177 

earth  she  is  named  Diana  ;  and  in  hell  she  is  called 
Hecate  or  Proserpine.  In  the  heavens  she  enlight- 
ens every  thing  by  her  ra\  s  ;  o;i  the  earth  she  keeps 
ander  her  power  ail  wild  beasts  by  her  bow  and  her 
dart ;  and  in  hell  she  keeps  all  the  ghosts  and  the 
spirits  in  subjection  to  her  by  her  power  and  au- 
tliority.  The  several  names  and  offices  are  coid- 
Qrised  in  an  ingenious  distich  : 

"  Terret,  lustrat,  agit;  Proserpina,  Luna,  Diana; 
Ima,  suprema,  feras ;  sceptro,  t'ulgore,  sagitta." 

Dempter  in  Paraiip. 

But  altlioiigh  Luna,  Diana,  and  Hecate,  are  com- 
monly thought  to  be  only  three  different  names  of 
the  same  goddess,  yet  Hesiod  esteems  them  three 
distinct  goddesses.  Secondly,  because  she  has,  as 
the  poets  say,  three  heads  ;  the  head  of  a  horse  on 
the  right  side,  of  a  dog  on  the  left,  and  a  human 
head  in  the  midst :  whence  some  call  her  three- 
headed,  or  three-faced.  And  others  ascribe  to  her 
the  likeness  of  a  bull,  a  dog,  and  a  lion.  Virgil 
and  Claudian  also  mention  her  three  countenances. 
Thirdly,  according  to  the  opinion  of  some,  she  is 
called  Triformls,  because  the  moon  hath  three  phases 
or  shapes  :  tlie  new  moon  appears  arched  vvith"  a 
semicircle  of  hght ;  tbe  half  moon  fills  a  semicircle 
w^ith  light ;  and  the  full  moon  fdls  a  whole  circle  or 
orb  vvith  its  splendour.  But  let  us  examine  these 
names  more  exactlj^ 

She  is  named  Luna,  from  shining,  either  because 
she  only  in  the  night  time  sends  fordi  a  glorious 
light,  or  else  because  she  shines  by  borrowed  li^ht, 
and  not  by  her  own  5  and  therefore  the  light  with 
which  she  shines  is  always  "^  new  light.  Her  chariot 
is  drawn  with  a  vAuie  and  a  black  horse;  or  with 
two  oxen,  because  she  has  got  two  horns ;  sorae- 

*  Quod  luce  aliena  splcndeat,  unde  Gra?ce  dicitur  SiXwij  si 
fiXxi  nov,  id  est,  lumen  novum.     Id.  ibid. 


178 

times  a  mule  is  added,  because  she  has  no  children, 
and  shines  by  the  light  of  the  sun.  Some  say,  that 
Lunos  of  both  sexes  have  been  worshipped,  especial- 
ly among  the  Egyptians  ;  and  indeed  they  give  this 
property  to  all  tlie  otlier  gods.  Thus  both  Lunus 
and  Luna  were  worshipped,  but  with  this  difference, 
that  those  who  vvorshipped  Luna  were  thought  sub- 
ject to  the  women,  and  those  who  worshipped  Lunus 
were  superior  to  them.  We  must  also  observe,  that 
the  men  sacrificed  to  Venus,  under  the  name  of  Luna 
in  women's  clothes,  and  the  women  in  men's  clothes. 

This  Luna  had  a  lover  who  was  named  Endy- 
mion,  and  he  was  courted  b}'  her,  insomuch,  that 
to  kiss  him,  she  descended  out  of  heaven,  and  came 
to  the  mountain  Latmus,  or  Lathynius,  in  Caria ; 
he  lay  condemned  to  an  eternal  sleep  by  Jupiter ; 
because,  v.hen  he  was  taken  into  heaven,  he  at- 
tempted to  make  love  to  Juno.  In  reality,  Endy- 
mion  v.as  a  famous  astronomer,  wvlio  first  described 
the  course  of  the  moon,  and  he  is  represented  sleep- 
ing, because  he  contemplated  nothing  but  the  plane- 
tary motions. 

Hecate  may  be  derived  from  UyJsv  [heJcathen] 
eminus ;  because  the  moon  darts  her  rays  or  ar- 
rows afar  off.  She  is  said  to  be  the  daughter  ot 
Ceres  by  Jupiter,  who  being  cast  out  by  her  mo- 
ther, and  exposed  in  the  streets,  was  taken  up  by 
shepherds,  and  nourished  by  them ;  for  v»  hich  rea- 
son she  was  worshipped  in  the  streets,  and  her 
statue  was  usually  set  before  the  doors  of  the  houses, 
whence  she  took  the  name  Prop^dsea.  Others  de- 
rive her  name  from  Ua.ro'i  [/icc«?07i]  centum,  because 
they  sacrificed  a  hundred  victims  to  her :  or,  be- 
cause, by  her  edict,  those  who  die  and  are  not  buri- 
ed, wander  a  hundred  years  up  and  down  hell. 
However,  it  is  certain  that  she  is  called  Trivia,  from 
triviis,  "the  streets;"  for  she  was  believed  to  pre- 
side over  the  streets  and  ways ;  so  that  they  sacri- 


179 

ficed  to  her  In  the  streets  ;  and  the  Athenians,  every 
new  moon,  made  a  sumptuous  supper  for  her  there, 
which  was  eaten  in  the  night  hy  the  poor  people  of 
the  city.  They  say  that  she  was  excessively  tall, 
her  head  was  covered  with  frightful  snakes  instead  of 
hair,  and  her  feet  were  like  serpents.  She  was  re- 
presented encompassed  with  dog^s  ;  because  that  ani- 
mal was  sacred  to  her;  and  Hesychius  says,  that 
she  was  sometimes  represented  by  a  dog.  We  are 
told  diat  she  presided  over  enchantments,  and  that 
when  she  was  called  seven  times  she  came  to  the 
sacrifices  :  as  soon  as  these  were  finished,  several 
apparitions  appeared,  called  from  her  Hecata^a. 

She  was  called  by  the  Egyptians,  Bubastrs  ;  her 
feasts  were  named  Bubastse ;  and  the  city  where 
they  were  yearh'  celebrated  was  called  Bubastis. 

She  is  called  Chitone  and  Chitonia,  ^  because 
women  after  childbirth  used  first  to  sacrifice  to  Ju- 
no, and  then  ofler  to  Diana  their  own  and  their  chil- 
dren's clothes. 

She  was  named  Dictynna,  not  only  from  the 
f  nets  which  she  used,  for  she  was  a  huntress,  and 
the  princess  of  hunters  (for  which  reason  all  woods 
v/ere  dedicated  to  her,)  but  also  because  Britomar- 
tis  the  virgin,  whom  she  hunted,  fell^nto  the  nets, 
and  vowed,  if  she  escaped,  to  build  a  temple  for 
Diana.  She  did  escape,  and  then  consecrated  a 
temple  to  Diana  Dictynna.  Others  relate  the  story 
thus  •  When  Britomartis,  whom  Diana  loved  be- 
cause she  was  a  huntress,  fled  from  Minos  her  lover, 
and  cast  herself  into  the  sea ;  she  fell  into  the  fish- 
ermen's nets,  and  Diana  made  her  a  goddess.  The 
ancients  thought  that  Diana  left  off  hunting  on  the 
ides  of  August,   therefore  at  that  time  it  was  not 

•  HiTcavyi,  quasi  tunicata  a  ;^<7-aJv,  tmiica  ;  solebant  enim  foemi- 
nae  partus  laboribus  perfunctce  Junoni  sacrificare  :  suas  autein  nx 
infantiuni  veste?  Diante  consecrare.     Plut.  3.  Symp.  c.  ult. 

t  Retia  enim  ^iKvra  dicuntur. 


180 

lawful  for  any  one  to  hunt,  but  they  crowned  the 
dugs  with  garlands,  and  by  the  light  of  torches, 
made  of  stubble,  hung  up  the  hunting  instruments 
near  them. 

We  shall  only  adjoin,  to  what  has  been  said,  the 
two  stories  of  Chione  and  Meleager. 

Chione  was  the  daughter  of  Dsedalion,  the  son  of 
Daedalus  :  she  was  beloved  by  Apollo  and  Mercu- 
ry, and  was  the  mother  of  twins  ;  namely,  Philam- 
mon,  a  skilful  musician,  and  Autolychus,  who  prov- 
ed a  famous  juggler,  and  an  artful  thief.  She  was 
so  far  from  thinking  this  a  shame,  that  she  grew 
very  proud ;  na}*,  openly  boasted,  that  her  beauty 
had  charmed  two  gods.  Besides,  she  was  so  bold 
as  to  speak  scornfully  of  Diana's  beauty,  and  to  pre- 
fer herself  before  her :  but  Diana  punished  the  in- 
solence of  this  boaster,  for  she  drew  her  bow,  and 
shot  an  arrow  through  her  tongue,  and  thereby  put 
her  to  silence  : 

Se  preeferre  Dianae 


Suslinuit,  faciemque  Deae  culpavit.     At  illi 
Ini  fcrox  niota  est,  factisque  placablmus.  inquit, 
IS'i'c  mora  curvavit  cornu,  nervusque  sagittam 
Impulil.  et  meritam  trajecit  arundine  linguam." 

She  to  Diana's  durst  her  face  prefer, 

And  blame  her  beauty.     With  a  cruel  look, 

She  said  our  deed  shall  right  us.     Forthwith  took 

Her  bow,  and  bent  it;  which  she  strongly  drew, 

And  through  her  guilty  tongue  the  arrow  flew. 

Meleager  was  punished  for  the  fault  of  his  father 
Oeneus,  who,  when  lie  offered  his  first  fruits  to  the 
gods,  Vvilfully  forgot  Diana ;  tlierefore  she  was  an- 
gry, and  sent  a  wild  boar  into  the  fields  of  his  king- 
dom of  Caledonia,  to  de?troy  them.  Meleager, 
accompanied  with  many  chosen  youths,  immediately 
undertook  either  to  kill  this  boar,  or  to  drive  hira 
out  of  the  country.    The  Virgin  Atalanta  was  among 


181 

the  hunters,  and  gave  the  boar  the  first  wound  ;  and 
soon  after  Meleager  killed  liim.  He  valued  Atalan- 
ta  more  who  wounded  him,  than  himself  who  killed 
him,  and  tlierefore  offered  her  the  bftar's  skin.  But 
the  uncles  of  Meleager  were  enraged  that  the  hide 
was  given  to  a  stranger,  violently  took  it  from  her ; 
upon  which  Meleager  killed  tJiem.  As  soon  as  his 
mother  Althaea  understood  that  Meleager  had  killed 
her  brothers,  she  sought  revenge  like  a  mad  woman. 
In  Althaea's  chamber  was  a  billet,  which,  when  Me- 
leager was  born,  the  Fates  took,  and  threw  into  the 
fire,  saying.  The  new-born  infant  shall  live  as  long 
as  this  stick  remains  unconsumed  : 

"  Tempora,  dlxerunt,  eadem  lignoque  tibique, 
O  modo  nate,  damus :  quo  poslquarn  carmine  dictO| 
Excessere  Dea3 ;  flagrantem  mater  ab  igne 
Eripuit  ramum,  sparsitque  liquentibiis  undisj 
Servatusque  diu  juvenis  servaverat  annos." 

O  lately  born,  one  period  we  assign 

To  thee  and  to  the  brand.     The  charm  they  weave 

Into  his  fate,  and  then  the  chamber  leave. 

His  mother  snatch"d  it  with  a  hasty  hand 

Ont  of  the  fire,  and  quench'd  the  flaming  brand, 

This  in  an  inward  closet  closely  lays, 

And  by  preserving  it  prolongs  his  days. 

The  mother  snatched  it  out  of  the  fire  and  quench- 
ed it,  and  laid  it  in  a  closet.  But  now,  moved  with 
rage,  she  goes  to  her  chamber,  and  fetching  th€ 
stick,  she  threv/  it  into  the  fire  : 


-"  Dextraque  aversa  trementi, 


Funereum  torrem  medios  conjecit  in  ignes. 

-With  eyes  turn'd  back,  her  quaking  hand 


To  trembling  (lames  exposed  the  fun'ral  brand, 

As  the  log  burned,  Meleager,  though  absent,  felt 
fire  in  his  bowels,  which  consumed  him  in  the  same 
manner  that  the  wood  was  consumed ;  and  when  at 
IG 


iS2 

last  the  log  was  quite  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  fire 
quenched,  Meleager  at  the  same  time  expired,  and 
turned  to  dust. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXMIIJVATIOJi. 

How  is  Diana  described  ? 

What  is  said  of  Actason  ? 

Why  does  Diana  represent  the  moon  ? 

What  is  said  of  her  with  regard  to  Alpheus  ? 

Why  is  she  called  Triformis  ? 

How  is  she  named  in  the  heavens,  in  the  earth,  and  in  heU 
and  why  so  ? 

Repeat  the  Latin  distich. 

Why  is  she  named  Luna3  ? 

How  was  LuL'aj  worshipped  among  the  Egyptians? 

What  is  said  of  Endymion  ? 

What  is  said  of  Hecate  ? 

'Vny  was  she  called  Trivia? 

Why  is  she  represented  as  encompassed  with  dogs? 

Why  is  she  called  Bubasta;.  and  why  Brimo  ? 

Why  was  she  called  Lucina  and  Opis  ? 

Why  was  she  called  Chitone  ? 

Why  was  she  named  Dictynna  ? 

Why  did  the  ancients  esteem  it  unlawful  to  hunt  after  the  first 
of  August  ? 

Give  some  account  of  the  stories  of  Chione  and  Meleager. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PALES,  FLORA,  FERONIA,  POMONA. 

That  old  lady,  whom  you  see  surrounded  by 
shepherds,  is  Pales,  the  goddess  of  shepherds  and 
pastures.  Some  call  her  Magna  Mater  and  Vesta, 
To  this  goddess  they  sacrificed  milk,  and  wafers 
made  of  millet,  that  she  might  make  the  pastures 
fruitful.  They  instituted  the  feasts  called  Palilia, 
or  Parilia,  to  her  honour,  which  were  observed  upon 
the  eleventh  or  twelfth  day  of  the  calends  of  May 


cr..Tii; 


II    M,-..       .1,1 


TliOIEiL 


183 

by  the  shepherds  in  the  field,  on  the  same  day  in 
which  Rornukis  laid  the  foundation  of  the  city. 
These  feasts  were  celebrated  to  appease  this  god- 
dess, that  she  might  drive  away  the  wolves,  and 
prevent  the  diseases  incident  to  cattle.  The  so- 
lemnities observed  in  the  Palilian  feasts  were  many: 
the  shepherds  placed  little  heaps  of  straw  in  a  par- 
ticular order,  and  at  a  certain  distance ;  then  they 
danced  and  leaped  over  them ;  then  they  purified 
the  sheep  and  the  rest  of  the  cattle  with  the  fume  ol 
rosemary,  laurel,  sulphur,  and  the  like  ;  as  we  learn 
from  Ovid,  who  gives  a  description  of  the  rites. 

"Alma  Pales,  faveas  pastoria  sacra  canenti, 

Prosequar  officio  si  tua  facta  meo. 

Cei'te  ego  de  vitiilo  cinerem,  stipulamque  fabalein 

Seepe  tuli,  l<eva,  februa  tosta,  manu. 

Certe  ego  tiansilui  positas  ter  in  ordine  fiammas, 

Virgoque  rorales  laurea  misit  aquas." 

Great  Pales  help  ;  the  past'ral  rites  I  r.lng, 
With  humble  duty  mentioning  eac*h  thing. 
Ashes  ot  calves,  and  bean-straws  oft  I've  held, 
With  burnt  purgations  in  a  hand  well  fill'd. 
Thrice  o'er  the  (lames,  in  order  rang'd,  I've  leapt, 
And  holy  dew  my  laurel  twig  has  dript. 

Flora,  so  dressed  and  ornamented,  is  the  god- 
dess and  president  of  flowers.  The  Romans  gave 
her  the  honour  of  a  goddess,  but  in  reality  she  was 
a  woman  of  inlanious  character,  who,  b}^  her  abo- 
minable trade,  heaped  up  a  great  deal  of  money, 
and  made  the  people  of  Rome  her  heir.  She  left  a 
certain  sum,  the  yearly  interest  of  which  was  settled, 
that  the  games  called  Florales,  or  Floralia,  might 
be  celebrated  annually,  on  lier  birth-day.  But  be- 
cause this  appeared  impious  and  profane  to  the  se- 
nate, they  covered  their  design,  and  worshipped 
Flora  under  the  title  of  "goddess  of  dowers  ;"  and 
pretended  that  they  offered  sacrifice  to  her,  that  the 
plants  and  trees  might  flourish. 


164 

Ovid  follows  the  same  fiction,  and  relates,  that 
Chloris,  an  inlamous  nymph,  was  married  to  Ze- 
pliyrus,  from  whom  she  received  the  power  over  all 
the  flowers.  But  let  us  return  to  Flora,  and  her 
games.  Her  image,  as  we  find  in  Plutarch,  was 
exposed  in  tlie  temple  of  Castor  and  Pollux,  dress- 
ed in  a  close  coat,  and  holding  in  her  right  hand 
die  flowers  of  beans  and  peas.  For  while  these 
sports  were  celebrated,  the  officers,  or  ccdiles,  scat- 
tered beans  and  other  pulse  among  the  people. 
These  games  were  proclaimed  and  begun  by  sound 
of  trumpet,  as  we  find  mentioned  in  Juvenal.— 
Sat.  6. 

Feronia,  the  goddess  of  the  woods,  is  justly 
placed  near  Flora,  the  goddess  of  flowers.  She 
IS  called  Feronia,  from  the  care  she  takes  in  *  pro- 
ducing and  propagating  trees.  The  higher  place 
is  due  to  her,  because  iruits  are  more  valuable  than 
flowers,  and  trees  than  small  and  ignoble  plants. 
It  is  said  she  had  a  grove  sacred  to  her,  under  the 
mountain  Soracte :  this  was  set  on  fire,  and  the 
neighbours  were  resolved  to  remove  the  image  Fe- 
ronia thence,  when  on  a  sudden  the  grove  became 
green  again.  Strabo  reports  that  those  who  were 
inspired  by  this  goddess,  used  to  walk  barefoot 
upon  burning  coals  without  hurt.  Though  many 
believed,  that  by  the  goddess  Feronia,"  that  kind  ol 
virtue  only  is  meant,  by  which  fruit  and  flowers 
were  produced. 

Pomona  is  the  goddess,  the  guardian,  the  presi- 
dent, not  of  the  f  apples  only,  but  of  all  the  frait 
and  the  product  of  trees  and  plants.  As  you  see, 
she  follows  after  Flora  and  Feronia,  in  order ;  but 
in  the  greatness  of  her  merit  she  far  surpasses  them; 
and  has  a  priest  who  serves  her  only,  called  Flamen 
Pomopalis. 

♦Feronia  a  ferendis  arboribus  dicta, 
t  Fomaua  a  poinis  (JicUur. 


185 

Once  when  Pomona  was  very  busy  in  looking  af 
ter  her  gardens  and  orchards  witli  great  care,  and 
was  wholly  employed  in  watering  and  securing  the 
roots,  and  lopping  the  overgrown  branches  ;  "^Ver- 
tumnus,  a  prmcipal  god  among  the  Romans,  (called 
so  because  he  had  power  to  turn  himself  into  what 
shape  he  pleased,)  fell  in  love  with  Pomona,  and 
counterfeited  the  shape  of  an  old  grey-headed  wo- 
man. Ke  came  leaning  on  a  stafl'into  the  gardens, 
admired  the  fruit  and  beauty  of  them,  and  commend- 
ing her  care  about  them,  he  saluted  her.  He  view- 
ed the  gardens,  and  from  the  observations  he  had 
made,  he  began  to  discourse  of  marriage,  telling  her 
that  it  would  add  to  the  happiness  even  of  a  god,  to 
have  her  to  wife.  Observe,  says  he,  the  trees  which 
creep  up  this  wall :  how  do  the  apples  and  plums 
strive  which  shall  excel  the  other  in  beauty  and  co- 
lour !  whereas,  if  they  had  not  props  or  supports, 
which  like  husbands  hold  them  up,  they  would  pe- 
rish and  decay.  All  this  did  not  move  hc<r,  till  Ver- 
tumnus  changed  himself  into  a  young  man ;  and 
then  she  also  began  to  feel  the  force  and  power  of 
love,  and  then  received  him  with  favour. — Ovid 
Met.  14. 

qUESTfOjXS  FOR  EXAMmATIOK. 

Who  was  Pales,  and  what  did  they  sacrifice  to  her? 

Why  were  tliose  feasts  observed  ? 

What  solemnities  were  observed  in  the  Palilian  feasts' 

Who  was  Flora  ? 

Was  she  really  a  goddess  ? 

How  were  the  Floralia  instituted  ;  v  lien  were  they  celebrated  J 
Ond  under  what  pretence  did  they  worship  Flora? 

How  is  her  fir^iire  represented  ? 

Who  is  Feronia  ;  wliat  is  her  occupalion  ;  and  ,vhy  is  mors 
honour  due  to  her  than  to  Flora? 

What  does  Strabo  say  of  Fero.iia? 

Who  was  Pomona,  and  what  was  her  priest  called  ' 

What  story  is  related  of  Verlumnus  ? 

•  Vertumnus  a  vertendo,  quod  in  quas  vellet  ngiiras  sese  vei* 
tere  poterat. 

16*  ^ 


186 
CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  NYMPHS. 

Now  observe  that  great  company  of  neat,  pretty, 
handsome,  beautiful,  charming,  virgins,  who  are 
very  near  the  gardens  of  Pomona.  Some  run  about 
tlie  woods,  and  hide  themselves  in  the  trunks  of  the 
aged  oaks ;  some  plunge  themselves  into  the  foun- 
tams,  and  some  swim  in  the  rivers.  They  are  call- 
ed by  one  common  name,  nymphs,  ^because  they 
always  look  young:  or  f because  they  are  hand- 
some :  yet  all  have  their  proper  names  beside,  which 
they  derive  either  from  the  places  in  which  tiiey  live, 
or  the  offices  which  they  perform  ;  they  are  espe- 
cially distributed  in  three  classes,  celestial,  terres- 
trial, and  marine. 

The  celestial  nymphs  were  those  genii,  those  souls 
and  intellects,  who  guided  the  spheres  of  the  hea- 
vens, and  dispensed  the  influences  of  the  stars  to 
the  things  of  the  earth. 

Of  the  terrestrial  nymphs,  some  preside  over  the 
woods,  and  were  called  Dryades,  I'rom  a  Greek 
word,  Apvi,  which  principally  signifies  an  oak,  but 
generally  any  tree  whatever.  These  Dryades  had 
their  habitations  in  the  oaks.  Other  nymphs  were 
called  JHamadryades,  for  they  were  born  when  the 
oak  was  first  planted,  and  when  it  perishes  they  die 
also.  The  ancients  held  strange  opinions  concern- 
ing oaks  :  they  imagined  that  even  th?  smallest  oak 
was  sent  from  heaven.  The  Druids,  priests  of  the 
Gauls,  esteemed  nothing  more  divine  and  sacred, 
than  the  excrescence  which  sticks  to  oaks.    Others  oj 

•  'Aro  t5  ail  »£«;  (fiama-^ai  quod  semper  juvenes  apparearit. 
t  'Ato  ri  (pa'tniv,  splendere  (]uod  forme  decore  pra-'lulgeant. 
X  Ab  «/*«,  simul,  et  ^fvs,  quereus. 


187 

those  nyinphs  were  called  ^Oreades,  or  Uriestiades, 
because  they  presided  over  the  mountains,  fNapscae, 
because  they  had  dominion  over  the  groves  and  val- 
leys. Others  JLimoniades,  because  they  looked 
after  the  meadows  and  fields.  And  others,  ||Meliae, 
from  the  ash,  a  tree  sacred  to  them  ;  and  these  were 
supposed  to  be  the  mothers  of  those  children,  who 
were  accidentally  born  under  a  tree,  or  exposed 
there. 

Of  the  marine  nymphs,  those  which  presided  over 
the  seas,  were  called  Nereides  or  Nereinse,  from  the 
sea  god  Nereus,  and  the  sea  nymph  Doris,  their  pa- 
rents ;  which  Nereus  and  Doris  w  ere  born  of  Tethys 
and  Oceanus,  from  whom  they  were  called  Oceani- 
tides  and  Oceaniae.  Others  of  those  nymphs  pre- 
side over  the  fountains,  and  were  called  §Naides  or 
Naiades  :  others  inhabit  the  rivers,  and  were  called 
Fluviales  or  IFPotamides  :  and  others  preside  over 
the  lakes  and  ponds,  and  were  called  Limnades. 

All  the  gods  had  nymphs  attending  them.  Jupi- 
ter speaks  of  his  in  Ovid  ; 

"  Sunt  mihi  Seraidei,  sunt  rustica  numina  Fauni, 
El  IVyinpha3,  Satyrique,  et  monticolffi  Sylvani. 

Half  gods  and  rustic  Fauns  attend  my  will, 
Nymphs,  Satyrs,  Sylvans,  that  oa  mountains  dwell. 

Neptune  had  many  nymphs,  insomuch  that  Hesi- 
od  and  Pindar  call  him  '''^^Nymphagetes,  that  is,  the 
captain  of  the  nymphs  :  the  poets  generally  gave  him 
fifty.  Phoebus  likewise  had  nymphs  called  Agaiv- 
nippidje  and  IMusae.  Innumerable  were  the  nymphs 
of  Bacchus,  who  were  called  by  diHerent  names, 

•  Ab  Spot,  mons. 
t  A  »«^w,  saltus  vel  valiis. 
I  A  Xiifiuv,  nratum. 
A  fi(X.'ict,  fraxinus. 
A  letu,  duo. 
UoTttftoi,  fluvius. 
Kv/Aipuy'iTvi,  id  est,  Nyrapharum  dux. 


188 

Bacchse  Bassarides,  Eloides,  and  Thyades.  Hunt* 
ing  nymphs  attended  upon  Diana  ;  sea  nymphs, 
called  Nereides,  waited  upon  Tethys ;  and  lourteea 
very  beautiful  nymphs  belonged  to  Juno  ; 

'•  Bis  septem  praestanti  corpore  Nymphae." 

Virg.  JEn.  1. 

Twice  seven  the  charming  daughters  of  the  main, 
Around  my  person  wait,  and  bear  my  train. 

Out  of  all  which  I  will  only  give  you  the  history  of 
two. 

Arethusa  was  one  of  Diana's  nymphs :  her  vir- 
tue was  as  great  as  her  beauty.  The  pleasantness 
of  the  place  invited  her  to  cool  herself  in  the  waters 
of  a  fine  clear  river  :  Alpheus,  the  god  of  the  river, 
assumed  the  shape  of  a  man,  and  arose  out  of  the 
water;  he  first  saluted  her  with  kind  words,  and 
then  approached  near  to  her :  but  away  she  flies, 
and  he  follows  her ;  and  when  he  had  almost  over- 
taken her,  she  was  dissolved  with  fear,  into  a  foun- 
tain, with  the  assistance  of  Diana,  whom  she  im 
plored.  Alpheus  then  resumed  his  former  shape  o\ 
water,  and  endeavoured  to  mix  his  stream  with  hers, 
but  in  vain ;  for  to  this  day  Arethusa  continues  her 
flight,  and  by  her  passage  through  a  cavity  of  the 
earth,  she  goes  under  ground  into  Sicil}'.  Alpheus 
also  follows  by  the  like  subterraneous  passage,  till 
at  last  he  unites  and  marries  his  own  streams  to  those 
of  Arethusa  in  that  island.      Virg.  ^n.  2. 

Echo  was  formerly  a  nymph,  though  nothing  ot 
her  but  her  voice  remains  now,  and  even  when  she 
was  alive,  she  was  so  far  deprived  of  her  speech, 
that  she  could  only  repeat  the  last  words  of  those 
Bentences  \>  liich  she  heard  : 

"  Corpus  adhuc  Echo,  non  vox  erat ;  et  tamen  usuni 
Garrula  non  alium  ;  (jiiam  nunc  habet,  oris  habebat ; 
Reddere  de  muitis  ut  verba  novissinia  posset." 

Ovid.  Mtl.  3. 


189 

She  was  a  nymph,  thouo;li  only  now  a  sound  j 
Yet  of  her  tongue  no  other  use  was  fomul, 
Than  now  slie  has;  v/liich  never  conid  be  more, 
Than  to  repeat  "what  she  had  heard  before. 

Juno  inflicted  this  punislinient  on  her  for  her  talk- 
ativeness :  for  when,  prompted  by  her  jealousy,  she 
came  down  to  discover  Jupiter  among  the  nymphs. 
Echo  detained  her  very  long  with  her  tedious  dis- 
courses, that  the  nymphs  might  have  an  opportunitjT 
to  escape,  and  hide  thems(?lves  : 

"Fecerat  hoc  Juno,  quia  cum  deprendere  posset 
Sub  Jove  sa'pe  suo  nymplias  in  monte  jacentes, 
Ilia  dcam  longo  prudens  sermone  tenebat, 
Dum  fugcreiit  nymphae." 

This  change  impatient  Juno's  anger  wrought, 

Who,  when  her  Jove  she  o'er  the  mountains  sought, 

Was  oft  by  Eciio's  tedious  tales  misled, 

Till  the  shy  nymphs  to  caves  and  grotto's  fled. 

This  Echo  by  chance  met  Narcissus  rambling  in 
the  woods ;  and  she  so  ad?nired  his  beauty  that  she 
fell  in  love  with  him  :  she  discovered  her  love  to  him, 
courted  him,  followed  and  embraced  him,  but  he 
broke  from  her  embraces,  and  hastily  fled  from  her 
sight :  upon  which  the  despised  nymph  hid  herself 
in  the  woods,  and  pined  away  with  grief,  so  that 
every  part  of  her  but  her  voice  was  consumed,  and 
her  bones  were  turned  into  stones. 

"  Vox  tantum,  atq;ie  ossa  snpersiint ; 
Vox  manet:  ossa  ferunt  lapidis  traxisse  figuram  ; 
Inde  latet  sylvis,  nuUoquc  in  monte  videlcr, 
Omnibus  auditur:  sonus  est  qui  vivU  in  iila." 

Her  flesh  consumes  and  moulders  with  despair, 
And  all  her  body's  juice  is  turn'd  to  air; 
So  wonc'rous  are  the  effects  of  restless  pain, 
That  nothing  but  her  voice  and  boiies  remain  ; 
Nay,  e'en  the  very  bones  at  last  are  gone, 
And  metamorphos'd  to  a  thoughtless  stane; 
Yet  still  the  voice  does  in  the  woods  survive, 
The  form's  departed,  but  the  sound's  alive. 


190 

Narcissus  met  with  as  bad  a  fate  :  for  though  he 
nould  neither  love  others,  nor  admit  of  their  love, 
yet  he  fell  so  deeply  in  love  with-  his  own  beauty, 
diat  the  love  of  himself  proved  his  ruin.  His  thirst 
led  him  to  a  fountain,  whose  waters  were  clear  and 
bright  as  silver : 

"  Fons  erat  illimis  nitidis  argenteus  undis."    Ovid  Met.  3. 

There  was  by  chance  a  living  fountain  near, 
Whose  unpollatcd  channel  ran  so  clear, 
That  it  seem'd  liquid  silver. 

When  he  stooped  to  drink,  he  saw  his  own  image , 
he  stayed  gazing  at  it,  insomuch  that  he  fell  pas- 
sionately in  love  with  it.  A  little  water  only  sepa- 
rated him  irom  his  beloved  object : 


"  Exigua  prohibetur  aqua" 

A  little  drop  of  water  does  remove 

And  keep  liim  from  the  object  of  his  love. 

He  continued  a  long  time  admiring  this  beloved 
picture,  before  he  discovered  what  it  was  that  he 
.so  passionately  adored ;  bat  at  length  the  unhappy 
creature  perceived,  that  the  torture  he  suffered  was 
from  the  love  of  his  own  self: 

"Flammas,  inquit,  moveoque,  feroque  : 

Quod  ciipio  mccum  est:   inopem  me  copia  fecit. 

0  ntinam  a  nostro  secedere  corpore  possem! 

Votum  in  amante  novum  est,  vellem  quod  amamusabcsset." 

My  love  does  vainly  on  nivself  return, 

And  iaiis  the  cruel  flames  with  which  I  burn. 

The  thing  desir'd  I  still  about  me  bore, 

And  too  much  plenty  has  confirm'd  me  poor. 

O  that  I  from  mv  much-lov'd  self  could  go; 

A  strange  request,  yet  would  to  God  'twere  so  ! 

In  a  word,  his  passion  conquered  him,  and  the 
power  of  love  was  greater  than  he  could  resist,  so 
that,  by  degrees,  he  wasted  away  and  consumed,  amth 


191 

at  last,  by  the  favour  of  the  gods,  was  turned  into  a 
daffodil,  a  flower  called  by  his  own  name. 

qUESTIO.XS  FOR  EX^^MLYATIOK 

Who  are  the  Nymphs;  how  are  they  engaged;  and  from 
whence  do  they  derive  their  general  nanne? 

From  whom  do  they  get  their  peculiar  names,  and  into  what 
classes  are  they  divided  ? 

Who  are  tl:e  celestial  Nymphs  ? 

Give  some  account  of  the  terrestrial  Nymphs. 

Over  what  d-d  the  marine  Nymphs  preside? 

Whom  did  the  Nymphs  attend? 

What  Is  said  of  Areth.usa  ? 

Who  was  Echo,  and  v.hat  is  her  history? 

What  is  the  history  of  Narcissus? 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  INFERIOR  RURAL  DEITIES. 

RusiNA,  the  goddess  to  whose  care  all  parts  of 
tlie  country  are  committed. 

Collina,  she  who  reigns  over  the  hills. 

Vallonia,  wlio  holds  her  empire  in  the  valleys. 

Hippona,  who  presides  over  the  horses  and  sta- 
bles. 

Bubona,  v/ho  hath  the  care  of  the  oxen. 

Seia,  who  takes  care  of  the  seed,  while  it  lies  bu- 
ried in  the  earth.  She  is  likewise  called  Segetia, 
because  she  takes  care  of  the  blade  as  soon  as  it  ap- 
pears green  above  the  ground. 

Runcina  is  the  goddess  of  weeding.  She  is  in^ 
voked  when  the  fields  are  to  be  weeded. 

Occator  is  tlie  god  of  harrowing.  He  is  wor- 
shipped when  the  fields  are  to  be  harrowed. 

Satoi  and  Sarritor  are  the  gods  of  sowing  and 
raking. 


19.2 

To  the  god  Robigus  were  celebrated  festivals  call- 
ed Robigalia,  wliich  v-jre  usually  observed  upon  the 
seventh  of  the  calends  of  May,  to  avert  tlie  blasting 
of  the  corn. 

Stercutius,  Stercutus,  or  Sterculius,  called  li^ie- 
wise  Sterquilinius  and  Picumnus,  is  the  god  who 
first  invented  the  art  of  manuring  the  ground. 

Proserpine  is  the  goddess  who  presides  over  the 
corn,  when  it  is  sprouted  pretty  high  above  the  eartli. 
We  shall  speak  more  of  her  when  we  discourse  con- 
cerning the  infernal  deities. 

Nodosus,  or  Nodotus,  is  the  god  that  takes  care 
of  the  knots  and  the  joints  of  the  stalks. 

Volusia  is  the  goddess  who  takes  care  to  fold  the 
blade  round  the  corn,  before  the  beard  breaks  out, 
wliich  foldings  of  the  blade  contain  the  beard,  as 
pods  do  the  seed. 

Patelina,  vv  ho  takes  care  of  the  corn  after  it  is 
broken  out  of  the  pod,  and  appears. 

The  goddess  Flora  presides  over  the  ear  when  it 
blossoms. 

Lactura,  or  Lactucina,  who  is  next  to  Flora,  pre^ 
sides  over  the  ear  when  it  begins  to  have  mnlk. 

And  Matura  takes  care  that  the  ear  comes  to  a 
just  maturity. 

Hostilina  was  worshipped  that  the  ears  of  com 
might  grow  even,  and  produce  a  crop  proportioi*- 
ably  to  the  seed  sown. 

Tutelina,  or  Tutuhna,  hath  a  tutelage  of  com 
when  it  is  reaped. 

Pilumnus  invented  the  art  of  kneading  and  baking 
bread.  He  is  commonly  joined  with  Picumnus,  hii 
brother,  v/hom  v/e  mentioned  above. 

Mellona  is  the  goiddess  who  invented  the  art  of 
making  honey. 

And  Fornax  is  esteemed  a  goddess  ;  because,  be** 
(ore  the  invention  of  grinding  wheat,  corn  was  parch- 
ed in  a  furnace.  Ovid  makes  mention  of  this  goddess* 


193 

*»  Facia  Dea  est  Fornax,  laeli  fornace  coloni 
Grant,  ut  vires  temperet  ilia  suas."     Fast.  6. 

A  goddess  Fornax  is,  and  her  the  clowns  adore, 
That  they  may've  kindly  batches  by  her  pow'r. 

qUESTIOJ^S  FOR  EXMfmATION. 

Who  were  the  Rusina,  Collina,  Vallonia,  and  Hippona  ? 
What  were  the  occupations  of  Bubona,  Seia,  Runcina,  &nd 
Occator  ? 

Who  were  the  gods  of  sowing  and  raking? 

On  what  account  were  the  Robigalia  instituted  ? 

Who  invented  the  art  of  manuring  the  land  ? 

Over  what  does  Proserpine  preside  ? 

Who  were  Nodosus,  Volusia,  and  Fatellina  ? 

Over  what  does  Flora,  Lactura,  and  Matura  preside  f 

Why  was  Hostilena  worshipped  ? 

W^hat  was  the  office  of  Tutelina  ? 

What  did  Pilumnus  invent? 

Who  was  Mellona  ? 

Why  is  Fornax  esteemed  a  goddess  f 


<.F   THE 


&£i 


1 


17 


PART  III. 

OF  THE  GODS  OF  THE  SEA, 

CHAPTER  I. 


SEC.  1.— NEPTUNE.     HIS  NAME  AND  DESCENT, 
ACTIONS  AND  CHILDREN. 

Neptune,  the  king  of  the  waters,  is  represented 
with  black  hair  and  bhie  eyes,  holding  a  sceptre  in 
nis  right  hand,  like  a  fork  with  three  tines,  and 
beautifully  arrayed  in  a  mantle  of  blue,  clasping  his 
.eft  hand  round  his  queen's  waist.  He  stands  up- 
right in  his  chariot,  which  is  a  large  escalopshell, 
drawn  by  sea  horses,  and  attended  b}^  odd  kind  of 
animals,  which  resemble  men  in  the  upper  parts, 
and  fish  in  the  lower.  His  name  is  derived,  by  the 
change  of  a  few  letters,  from  the  word  nubo,  which 
signifies  "  to  cover ;"  because  the  sea  encompasses, 
embraces,  and,  as  it  were,  covers  the  land.  Or, 
as  others  believe,  he  is  so  called  from  an  Egyptian 
Word  (nepthen,)  which  signifies  the  coasts  and  pro- 
montories, and  other  parts  of  the  earth,  which  are 
washed  by  the  waters.  So  that  Cicero,  who  de- 
rives Neptune  from  nando  (swimming,)  is  either 
mistaken,  or  the  place  is  corrupt. 

Neptune  is  the  governor  of  the  sea,  the  father  of 
the  rivers  and  the  fountains,  and  the  son  of  Saturn 
by  Ops.     His  mother  preserved  him  from  the  de- 


to 


195 

vo  '  rng  jaws  of  Saturn,  who  ate  up  all  the  male 
chus'ren  that  was  born  to  him,  by  givintj;  Saturn  a 
yoii\\9;  foal  to  eat  in  his  stead.  In  the  Greek  he  is 
called  Uoa-ei^av  [^Posiedon,~\  because  he  so  binds  our 
feet  thit  we  are  not  able  to  walk  within  his  do- 
minions'., that  is,  on  the  water. 

When  he  came  of  age,  Saturn's  kingdom  was  di- 
vided by  lot,  and  the  maritime  parts  fell  to  hiip. 
He  and  .<\pollo,  by  Jupiter's  command,  were  torced 
to  c.':.rve  Liaomedon,  in  building  the  walls  of  Troy  ; 
betawse  he  and  some  other  gods  had  plotted  against 
Ju{,''ler.  Then  he  took  ^Amphitrite  to  wife,  who 
refi/.>.ed  a  long  time  to  hearken  to  his  courtship  ;  but 
at  lastj  by  the  assistance  of  a  dolphin,  and  by  the 
power  i'Tfluttery,  he  gained  her.  To  recompense 
which  kiidness,  the  dolphin  was  placed  among  tne 
stars,  avid  made  a  constellation.  Amphitrite  had 
two  other  names  ;  Salacia,  so  called  from  salum,  the 
sea,  or  tl^"  salt  water,  towards  the  lower  part  and 
bottom  of  '.he  sea  ;  and  Venilla,  so  called  from  veni' 
endo,  beca.ise  the  sea  goes  and  comes  with  the  tide, 
or  ebbs  and  flows  by  turns. 

The  poe^s  tell  us,  that  Neptune  produced  a  horse 
in  Attica  out  of  the  ground,  by  striking  it  with  his 
trident;  whence  he  is  called  Hippius  and  Hippo- 
dromus,  and  he  is  esteemed  the  pr^  sident  over  horse 
races.  At  his  altar,  in  the  Circus  at  Rome,  games 
were  instituted,  in  which  they  represented  the  an- 
cient Romans  by  violence  carrying  away  the  Sabine 
women.  His  altar  was  under  ground,  and  sacrifi- 
ces were  offered  to  him  by  the  name  of  Consus,  the 
god  of  counsel ;  which  for  the  most  part  ought  to 
be  given  privately ;  and  therefore  the  god  Consul 
was  worshipped  in  an  obscure  and  private  place. 
The  solemn   games   Consualia,    celebrated   ni    the 

*  Dicitur  a,y,(piTftrn  wa.foi  TO  ufKpirpitiiv  a  circumterendo,  quod 
errans  mare  circumterat. 


196 

month  of  March,  were  instituted  In  honour  of  Nep- 
tune. At  the  same  time,  the  horses  left  working, 
and  the  mules  were  adorned  with  garlands  of  flowers. 
Hence  it  also  happens,  that  the  chariot  of  Nep- 
tune is  drawn  by  hippocam^n,  or  sea  horses,  as  well 
as  sometimes  by  dolphhis.  Those  sea  horses  had 
the  tails  of  fishes,  and  only  two  feet,  which  were  like 
the  fore  feet  of  a  horse,  according  to  the  description 
given  of  them  in  Statius  : 

"  lUic  ^Egeo  Neptunus  gurgUe  fesso:- 

In  portam  deducit  equos,  prior  haurit  habeaas 

Ungula,  postremi  solvuntur  in  aeqtiora  pisces."    Treb-  2, 

Good  IS'eplune's  steeds  to  rest  are  set  up  here, 

In  the  jEgean  gulph,  whose  fore  parts  harness  bear, 

Their  hinder  parts  fish-shap'd. 

And  this  is  the  reason  why  Virgil  calls  them  two- 
footed  horses :  Neptune  guides  them,  and  goads 
Uiem  with  his  trident,  as  it  is  expressed  in  Statius  : 

"  Triplici  telo  jubet  ire  jugales  : 

lUi  spumiferos  glomerant  a  pectore  fluctu?, 

Pone  natant,  delentque  pedum  vestigia  cauda."    Achil.  1, 

Shaking  his  trident,  urges  on  his  steeds, 
Who  witli  two  feet  beat  from  thsir  brawny  breasts 
The  foaming  billows  ;  but  their  hinder  parts 
Swim,  and  go  smooth  against  the  curling  surge. 

It  was  therefore  Neptune's  peculiar  office,  not  only 
to  preside  over,  and  to  govern  horses  both  hy  land 
and  sea,  but  also  the  government  of  ships  were  com- 
mitted to  his  care,  which  wTre  always  safe  under  his 
protection ;  for  whenever  he  rides  upon  the  waters, 
the  weather  immediately  grows  fair,  and  the  sea 
calm. 


-"  Tumida  aquora  placat, 


Collectasque  fugat  nubes,  solemque  reduclt."  Virg.^n.  1 

He  sraoolh'd  the  sea, 

PispeU'd  the  darkness,  and  restored  the  day 


197 

"  Subsidunt  undas,  tnmiduraqiie  sub  axe  tonanti 
Sternitur  aequor  aquis,  fugiunt  vasto  a^there  nimbi  " 

^n.  6. 

High  on  the  waves  his  azure  car  he  guides, 
Its  axles  thunder,  and  the  sea  subsides  ; 
And  the  smooth  ocean  rolls  her  silent  tides. 


-"  ^quora  postquam 


Prospiciens  genitor,  caeloque  invectus  aperto, 
Flectit  equos,  curruque  volans  dat  lora  secundo." 

Virg.  JEh. 


-Where'er  he  guides 


His  finny  coursers,  and  in  triumph  rides, 
The  waves  unruffle,  and  the  sea  subsides 

The  most  remarkable  of  his  children  were  Triton, 
Phorcus  or  Proteus.  Of  the  first  we  shall  speak  in 
another  place. 

Phorcus  or  Phorcys,  was  his  son  by  the  nymph 
Thesea.  He  was  vanquished  by  Atlas,  and  drowrj- 
ed  in  the  sea.  His  surviving  friend  said,  that  )>€ 
was  made  a  sea  god,  and,  therefore,  they  worship- 
ped him.  We  read  of  another  Phorcus,  who  had 
three  daughters,  they  had  but  one  eye  among  them 
all,  which  they  all  could  use.  When  either  of  thera 
desired  to  see  any  thing,  she  fixed  the  eye  in  her 
forehead,  in  the  same  manner  as  men  fix  a  diamond 
in  a  ring ;  and  having  used  it,  she  pulled  the  eye 
out  again,  that  her  sisters  might  have  it;  thus  they 
all  used  it,  as  there  was  occasion. 

Proteus,  his  son  by  the  nymph  Phoenice,  was  the 
keeper  of  the  sea  calves.  He  could  convert  himself 
into  all  sorts  of  shapes ;  sometimes  he  could  flow 
like  the  water,  and  sometimes  burn  like  the  fire ; 
sometimes  he  was  a  fish,  a  bird,  a  lion,  or  whatever 
he  pleased. — Ovid  Met.  8. 

Nor  was  this  wonderful  power  enjoyed  by  Pro- 
teus alone  ;  for  Vertumnus,  one  of  the  gods  of  the 
Romans,  possessed  it ;  his  *narae  shows  it,  as  we 

*  Vertumnus  dictus  est  a  vertendo 
17^ 


198 

observed  before  in  the  story  of  Pomona.  From  this 
god,  Verlumnus,  comes  that  common  Latin  expres- 
sion, henc  or  male  veriaf,  may  it  succeed  well  or  ill ; 
because  it  is  the  business  of  V'ertumnus  to  preside 
over  the  turn  or  change  of  things,  which  happen 
according  to  expectation,  though  oftentimes  what 
we  think  good  is  found  in  the  conclusion  [waZe 
vertere']  to  be  worse  than  was  expected  ;  as  that 
sword  wh.ich  Dido  received  from  ^Eneas,  with  which 
she  afterwards  killed  herself. 

Neptune  "^endued  Per icly  menus,  Nestor's  brother, 
with  the  same  power  ;  and  he  was  killed  by  Hercu- 
les when  in  the  shape  of  a  fly :  for  when  Hercules 
fought  against  Neleus,  a  fly  tormented  and  stung 
him  violently  ;  and  Ai  Pallas  discovering  to  him 
that  this  fly  was  Periclymenus,  he  killed  him. 

Neptune  gave  the  same  power  to  Metra,  Mestra, 
or  Mestre,  the  daughter  of  Erisichthon,  by  which 
f  she  was  enabled  to  succour  lier  father's  insatiable 
hunger. 

For  the  same  cause  Caenis,  a  virgin  of  Thessaly, 
obtained  the  same,  or  rather  a  greater  power,  from 
Neptune  ;  for  he  gave  her  power  to  change  hei 
sex,  and  made  her  invulnerable  :  she,  therefore, 
turned  herself  into  a  man,  and  was.  called  Cseneus. 
She  fought  against  the  Centaurs,  till  they  had  over- 
whelmed her  with  a  vast  load  of  trees,  and  buried 
her  alive ;  after  which  she  was  changed  into  a  bird 
©f  her  own  name. — Ovid  Met, 

"Ensemqiie  rechiHit 


Dardaiiium,  non  hos  quitsUum  raunus  in  usns." 

I'irg.  JEn  4. 

The  Trojan  sword  unslieath'd, 


A  gift  by  liim  not  to  Ibis  use  bequealh'd. 

•  Horn,  in  Odyss.  11. 

t  •'  Nunc  e'jua,  nunc  ales,  mode  bos,  modo  servus  obihat. 
Praebeltatfjue  uvido  iion  jnsta  alimenta  parenti." — Ovid  Met,  3, 


199 

qUESTIOjXS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

How  is  Neptune  represented  ? 

From  what  is  iiis  name  dei  ived  ? 

Whose  son  was  Neptune,  and  how  was  his  life  preserved? 

What  is  his  name  in  Greek,  and  why? 

What  task  was  imposed  on  him  for  his  rebellion  against  Ju- 
piter ? 

Why  w  as  tlic  dolphin  made  a  constellation  ? 

What  were  Amphitrite's  names,  and  from  what  were  they 
derived  r 

Why  ie  Neptune  called  Hippius  and  Hippodromus? 

What  games  were  instituted  at  his  altar,  and  what  sacrifice* 
were  offered  him  ? 

What  were  the  Consualia,  and  how  were  they  kept? 

What  were  the  Hippocampi? 

What  was  Neptune's  peculiar  office? 

Who  were  Neptune's  children? 

What  is  the  history  of  Phorcus? 

Who  was  Proteus,  and  what  particular  power  had  he? 

What  is  said  of  Vertumnus  ? 

What  is  the  history  of  Periclymenus  ? 

Who  was  Mestra,  and  what  did  she  do? 

What  power  did  Neptune  g/ant  to  Cgenis  ? 


CHAPTER  II. 

TRITON,  AND  THE  OTHER  MARINE  GODS. 

Triton  was  the  son  of  Neptune  by  Amphitrite ; 
he  was  his  father's  companion  and  trumpeter.  Half 
of  him  resembles  a  man,  but  his  other  part  is  like  a 
fish :  his  two  feet  are  like  the  fore  feet  of  a  horse,  his 
tail  is  cleft  and  crooked,  like  a  half  moon,  and  his 
hair  resembles  wild  parsley.  Two  princes  of  Par- 
nassus, Virgil  and  Ovid,  give  most  elegant  descrip- 
tions of  him  : 


"  Hunc  vehit  immanis  Triton,  et  ca2rula  concha 
Exterreiis  freta  ;  cui  laterum  *enus  his|)ida  nanti 
Frons  hominem  pra^fert,  in  pristim  desinit  alvus, 
Spumea  pestifero  sub  pe&tore  murmurat  unda." — Mn.  10 


200 

Him  and  his  martial  train  the  Triton  bears, 
High  on  his  poop  the  sea-green  god  appears; 
Frowning,  he  seems  his  crooked  shell  to  sound, 
And  at  the  blast  the  billows  dance  around. 
A  hairy  man  above  the  waist  he  shows ; 
A  porpoise  tail  beneath  his  body  grows. 
And  ends  a  fish  :  his  breast  the  waves  divide, 
And  froth  and  foam  augment  the  murm'ring  tide. 

"  Caeruleum  Tritona  vocat ;  conchaque  sonaci 

Inspirare  jubet ;  fluctusque  et  flumina  signo 

Jam  revocare  dato.     Cava  buccina  suniitur  illi 

Tortilis,  in  latum  (juaj  turbine  crescit  ab  imo : 

Buccina,  quaj  medio  concepit  ut  aera  ponto, 

Littora  voce  replet  sub  utroque  jacentia  Phcebe." — Met.  1 

Old  Triton  rising  from  the  deep  he  spies, 
Whose  shoulders  rob'd  with  native  purple  rise, 
And  bids  him  liis  loud-sounding  shell  inspire, 
And  give  the  floods  a  signal  to  retire. 
He  his  wreath'd  trumpet  takes  (as  given  in  charge) 
That  from  the  turning  bottom  grows  more  large; 
This,  when  the  Psumen  o'er  the  ocean  sounds, 
The  east  and  west  from  shore  to  shore  rebounds. 

Oceanus  another  of  the  seagods,  was  the  son  ol 
Coelum  and  Vesta.  He,  by  the  ancients,  was  called 
the  "  Father,"  not  only  of  all  the  rivers,  but  of  the 
animals,  and  of  the  very  gods  themselves ;  for  they 
imagined  that  all  things  in  nature  took  their  begin- 
ning from  him.  It  is  said  that  he  and  his  wife  Te- 
thys  were  parents  of  three  thousand  sons,  the  most 
eminent  of  which  was  : 

Nereus,  who  was  nursed  and  educated  by  the 
waves,  and  afterward  dwelt  in  the  Mgean  sea,  and 
became  a  famous  prophecier.  He  was  the  father  of 
fifty  daughters  by  his  wife  Doris,  whose  nymphs 
were  called  after  their  father's  name,  Nereides. 

Palsemon,  and  his  mother  Ino,  are  also  to  b€ 
reckoned  among  the  sea  deities.  They  were  made 
seagods  on  this  occasion  :  Ino's  husband,  Athamas, 
was  distracted,  and  tore  his  son  Learchus  into  pie- 
ces, and  dashed  him  against  the  wall :  Ino  saw  this, 
and  fearing  lest  the  same  fate  should  come  upon  her- 


201 

self  and  lier  other  son,  Melicerta,  she  took  her  soo, 
and  with  him  threw  herself  into  the  sea  :  where  they 
were  made  sea  deities.  Nothing  perished  in  the  wa- 
ters but  their  names.  Though  their  former  names 
wore  lost  in  tlie  waves,  yet  they  found  new  ones  : 
she  was  called  Leucothea,  and  he  Palsemon  by  the 
Greeks,  and  Portumnus  by  the  Latins. 

Glaucus,  the  fisherman,  became  a  seagod  by  a 
more  pleasant  way  :  for  when  he  pulled  the  fishes 
which  he  had  caught  out  of  his  nets,  and  laid  them 
on  the  shore,  he  observed  that  by  touching  a  certain 
herb,  they  recovered  tlieir  strength,  and  leaped 
again  into  the  water.  He  wondered  at  so  strange 
an  efiect,  and  had  a  desire  to  taste  this  herb.  When 
he  had  tasted  it,  he  followed  his  fishes,  and,  leaphig 
into  the  water,  became  a  god  of  the  sea. — Ovid 
Met.  13. 

To  these  we  may  add  the  story  of  Canopus,  a 
god  of  the  Egyptians,  who,  by  the  help  of  water, 
gained  a  memorable  victory  over  the  god  of  the 
Chaldeans.  When  these  two  nations  contended 
about  the  power  and  superiority  of  their  gods,  the 
priests  consented  to  bring  tvv'o  gods  together,  that 
they  might  decide  thsir  controversy.  The  Chal- 
deans brought  their  god  Ignis  (Fii'e,)  and  the 
Egyptians  brought  Canopus  :  they  set  the  two  gods 
near  one  another  to  fight.  Canopus  was  a  great 
pitcher  filled  with  water,  and  full  of  holes,  but  so 
stopped  with  wax  that  nobody  could  discern  them  * 
when  the  fight  began.  Fire,  the  god  of  the  Chal- 
deans, melted  the  wax,  which  stopped  the  holes  ;  so 
that  Canopus,  with  rage  and  violence  assaulted  Ig- 
nis with  streams  of  water,  and  totally  extinguished 
vanquished,  and  overcame  him. 

qUESTIOJYS  FOR  EXAMJKATIOK'. 

Who  was  Triton,  and  how  is  he  described  ? 
Give  Virgil's  description. 


202 

Give  Ovid's  account. 

Who  was  OccHtius ' 

What  is  said  of  Nereus  ? 

Give  the  history  of  Talaemon. 

How  was  Glaucus  transformed  to  a  seagoJ  ? 

What  story  is  told  of  Canopus  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  MONSTERS  OF  THE  SEA. 
THE  SIRENS,  SCYLLA,  AND  CHARYBDIS. 

There  were  three  Sirens,  whose  parentage  is  un» 
certain,  though  some  say  they  were  the  offspring  of 
the  river  Achelous,  and  tlie  muse  Melpomene.  They 
had  the  faces  of  women,  but  the  bodies  of  flying 
fishes  :  they  dwelt  near  the  promontory  Pel  oris  in 
Sicily,  (now  called  Capodi  Faro,)  or  in  tlie  islands 
called  Sirenusfe,  which  are  situate  in  the  extreme 
parts  of  Italy ;  where,  with  the  sweetness  of  their 
singing,  they  allured  all  the  rien  to  them  that  sail- 
ed by  those  coasts  :  and  when  by  their  charms  they 
brought  upon  them  a  dead  sleep,  tiiey  drowned 
them  in  the  sea,  and  afterward  took  them  out  and 
devoured  them.  Their  names  were  Parthenope, 
fwho  died  at  Naples,  for  which  reason  that  city  was 
formerly  called  Parthenope,)  LigtC,  and  Leucosia. 

That  their  charms  might  be  more  easily  received, 
and  make  the  greater  impression  on  the  minds  of 
the  hearers,  they  used  musical  instruments  with  their 
Toices,  and  adapted  the  matter  of  their  songs  to  the 
temper  and  inclination  of  their  hearers.  With  some 
songs  they  enticed  the  ambitious,  with  others  the  vo- 
luptuous, and  with  other  songs  tliey  drew  on  the  co- 
vetous to  their  destruction. 


203 

♦*  Monstra  maris  Sirenes  erant,  quae  voce  canora 
Quasliuet  admissas  detinuere  rates." — Ov.  Art.  Am.  3. 

Sirens  were  once  seamonsters,  mere  decoys, 
Trepanning  seamen  with  their  tuneful  voice. 

History  mentions  only  two  passengers,  viz.  Ulys- 
ses and  Orpheus,  who  escaped.  The  first  was  fore- 
warned of  the  danger  of  their  charming  voices  ])y 
Circe  :  tiierefore  he  stopped  the  ears  of  his  com- 
panions with  wax,  and  was  himself  fast  bound  to  the 
mast  of  the  ship,  by  which  means  he  safely  passed 
the  fatal  coasts.  But  Orpheus  overcame  them  in 
their  own  art,  and  evaded  the  temptations  of  their 
murdering  music,  by  playing  upon  his  harp,  and 
singing  the  praises  of  the  gods  so  well,  that  he  out- 
did the  Sirens.  The  fates  had  ordained,  that  the  Si- 
rens should  live  till  somebody  who  passed  by  heard 
them  sing,  and  yet  escaped  alive.  When,  therefore, 
they  saw  themselves  overcome,  they  grew  desperate, 
and  threw  themselves  headlong  into  the  sea,  and 
were  turned  into  stones.  Some  write,  that  they 
were  formerly  virgins,  Proserpine's  companions, 
who  sought  every  where  for  her  when  she  was  sto- 
len away  by  Pluto ;  but  when  they  could  not  find 
her,  that  they  were  so  grieved,  that  they  cast  them- 
selves into  the  sea,  and  from  that  time  were  changed 
into  seamonsters.  Others  add,  that  by  Juno's  per- 
suasion they  contended  in  music  with  Muses,  who 
overcame  them,  and,  to  punish  their  rashness,  cut  off 
tlieir  wings,  with  which  they  afterward  made  for 
tliemselves  garlands. 

The  poets  teach  by  this  fiction,  that  the  *"  minds 
of  men  are  deposed  from  their  proper  seat  and  state, 
by  the  allurements  of  pleasure."  It  corrupts  them  ; 
and  there  is  not  a  more  deadly  plague  in  nature  to 
manldnd  than   voluptuousness.     Whoever    addicts 

•  Voluptatura  illicebris  mentem  e  sua  sede  et  statu  diraoveii. 
Cic.  de  Senectu*e. 


204 

himself  altogether  to  pleasure,  loses  his  reason,  and 
is  ruined  ;  and  lie  that  desires  to  decline  their  charms, 
must  stop  his  ears  and  not  listen  to  them  ;  but  heark- 
en to  the  music  of  Orpheus.  That  is,  he  must  ob- 
serve the  precepts  and  instruction  of  the  wise. 

The  description  of  Scyila  is  very  various  ;  for 
some  say  that  she  was  a  most  beaivuihl  woman  from 
the  breasts  downward,  but  had  six  dotrs'  heads  • 
and  others  say,  that  in  her  upper  parts  she  resem- 
bles a  woman,  in  her  lower,  a  serpent  and  a  wolf. 
But  whatever  her  picture  was,  all  acknowledge  that 
she  w^as  the  daughter  of  Phorcus.  She  was  court- 
ed by  Glaucus,  and  received  his  addresses ;  upon 
which  Circe,  who  passionately  loved  Glaucus,  and 
could  not  bear  that  Scyila  should  be  preferred  be- 
fore her  by  Glaucus,  poisoned  with  venomous  herbs 
those  waters  in  which  Scyila  used  to  wash  herself: 
Scyila  was  ignorant  of  it,  and  according  to  her  cus- 
tom, went  into  the  fountain  ;  and  when  she  saw  that 
the  lower  ppxrts  of  her  body  were  turned  into  the 
heads  of  dogs,  being  extremely  grieved  that  she 
had  lost  her  lieauty,  she  cast  herself  headlong  into 
the  sea,  where  she  was  turned  into  a  rock,  famous 
for  the  many  shipwrecks  that  happen  there.  This 
rock  is  still  seen  in  the  sea  that  divides  Italy  from 
Sicily,  between  Messina,  a  city  of  Sicil}',  and  Rhe- 
^um  (now  Reggio)  in  Calabria.  It  is  said  to  be 
surrounded  with  dogs  and  wolves,  which  devour  the 
persons  who  are  cast  away  there  :  but  by  this  is 
meant,  that  when  the  waves,  by  a  storm,  are  dashed 
against  this  great  rock,  the  noise  a  little  resembles  the 
barking  of  dogs,  and  the  howling  of  wolves. 

There  was  another  Scyila,  the  daughter  of  king 
Nisus,  in  love  with  jNIinos,  who  besieged  her  father 
in  the  city  of  Megara.  She  betrayed  both  her  fa- 
ther and  her  country  to  him,  by  cutting  off  the  fatal 
lock  of  purple  hair,  in  which  were  contained  her  fa- 
ther's and  her  country's  safety,  and  sent  it  to  the 


205 

besieger.  Minos  gained  the  city  by  it,  but  detested 
Scylla's  perfidiousness,  and  hated  her.  She  could 
lot  bear  this  misfortune,  but  was  changed  into  a  lark. 
Nisus,  her  father,  was  likewise  changed  into  a  spar- 
hawk,  ^^  hich  is  called  nisus,  after  his  name,  and,  as 
if  he  still  ought  to  punish  his  daugliter's  baseness, 
pursues  the  lark  with  great  fury  to  devour  her. 

Charybdis  is  a  vast  whirlpool  in  the  same  Sicilian 
sea,  over  against  Scylla,  which  swallows  whatsoever 
comes  within  its  circle,  and  throws  it  up  again. 
They  say,  that  this  Charybdis  was  formerly  a  very 
ravenous  woman,  who  stole  away  Hercules*  oxen : 
for  which  theft  Jupiter  struck  her  dead  with  thun- 
der, and  then  turned  her  into  this  gulf.  Virgil  gives 
an  elegant  description  of  these  two  monsters,  Scylla 
and  Charybdis. 

"  Dextrum  Scylla  latus,  lasviim  implacata  Charybdi* 
Obsidel     atque  imo  barathri  ter  gurgite  vastos 
Sorbet  in  abruptum  iVtictus,  rursusque  sub  auras 
Erigit  alternos,  et  sidera  verberat  unda, 
At  Scyllam  caecis  cohibet  spelunca  latebris 
Ora  exsertantem,  et  naves  in  saxa  trahentend  : 
Prima  hominis  facies,  et  pulchro  pectore  virgo 
Pube  tenus  :  postrema  immani  corpore  pristis, 
Delphinum  caudas  utero  commissa  Jnporum." — ^iu  3 

Far  on  the  right  her  dogs  foul  Scylla  hides: 

Charybdis  roaring  on  the  left  presides, 

And  in  her  greedy  whirlpool  sucks  the  tides; 

Then  spouts  them  from  below :  with  fury  driv'n, 

The  waves  mount  up,  and  wash  the  face  of  heav'n. 

But  Scylla  from  lier  den,  with  open  jaws 

The  sinking  vessel  in  her  eddy  draws; 

Then  dashes  on  the  rocks.     A  human  face 

And  virgin  bosom  hide  the  tail's  disgrace: 

Her  parts  obscene  below  the  waves  descend, 

With  dogs  enclos'd,  and  in  a  dolphin  end. 

*ri«e  fables  of  Scylla  and  Charybdis  represent  lust 
and  gluttony,  vices  which  render  our  voyage  through 
this  world  extremely  hazardous  and  perilous.  Lust, 
like  Scylla,  engages  unwary  passengers  by  the  beau- 
ty and  pomp  of  her  outside ;  and  when  they  are  evr 
18 


206 

tangled  in  her  snares,  she  tortures,  vexes,  torments, 
and  disquiets  them  with  rage  and  fury,  which  ex- 
ceeds the  madness  of  dogs,  or  the  ravenousness  of 
Avolves.  Ghittony  is  a  Charybdis,  a  gulf  or  whirl- 
pool that  is  insatiable :  it  buries  families  alive,  de- 
vours estates,  consumes  lands  and  treasures,  and 
sucks  up  all  things. 

qUESTIOJSS  FOR  EXMUKjiTIOK. 

Who  were  the  Sirens,  and  how  are  they  described ' 

What  Avere  their  names  ? 

How  did  they  entice  the  unwaiy  ? 

Who  escaped  their  machinations,  and  how  did  they  effect  it? 

What  became  of  the  Sirens  aftenvards  ? 

W^hat  moral  is  to  be  drawn  from  this  story? 

What  is  the  histoiy  of  Scylla? 

What  is  said  of  the  other  Scylla  ? 

Give  the  history  of  Chaiybdis. 

What  is  the  moral  of  the  fable  ? 


i'it 


OF  TBB 


p 


PART  IV. 

OF  THE  INFERINAL  DEITIES. 

CHAPTER  L 

A  VIEW  OF  HELL.     CHARON.     RIVERS  OF  HELL, 
CERBERUS. 

We  are  now  in  the  confines  of  hell.  Prithee 
come  along  with  me ;  I  will  be  the  same  friend  to 
you  that  the  Sibyl  was  to  jEneas.  Nor  shall  you 
need  a  golden  bough  to  present  to  Proserpine.  You 
see  here  painted  those  regions  of  hell,  of  which  you 
read  a  most  elegant  description  in  Virgil : 

"  Spelunca  alta  fuit,  vastoque  immanis  hiatu, 
Scrupea,  tuta  lacu  nigro  nemorumque  tenebris ; 
Quam  super  baud  ulla3  poterant  impune  volantes 
Tendere  iter  pennis  :  talis  sese  balitus  alris 
Faucibus  efFundens  supera  ad  convexa  ferebat ; 
Unde  locum  Graii  dixerunt  nomine  Avernum." — JEn  6. 

Deep  was  the  cave,  and  downward  as  it  went 
From  the  wide  mouth  a  rocky  rough  descent; 
And  here  th'  access  a  gloomy  grove  defends ; 
And  there  th'  unnavigai»le  lake  extends, 
O'er  whose  unhappy  waters,  void  of  light, 
No  bird  presumes  to  steer  his  airy  flight, 
Such  deadly  stenches  from  the  depth  arise. 
And  steaming  sulphur,  which  infects  the  skies; 
Hence  d'o  the  Grecian  bards  their  legends  make, 
And  give  the  name  Avernus  to  the  lake. 

The  passage  that  leads  to  these  infernal  domin- 
ions was  a  wide  dark  cave,  through  which  you  pass 


208 

by  a  steep  rocky  descent  till  you  arrive  at  a  gloon?  r 
grove,  and  an  unnavigable  lake,  called  *Avernus, 
from  which  such  poisonous  vapours  arise,  that  no 
birds  can  fly  over  it ;  for  in  their  flight  they  fall  down 
dead. 

The  monsters  at  the  entrance  of  hell  are  those  fa- 
tal evils  which  bring  destruction  and  death  upon 
mankind,  by  means  of  which  the  inhabitants  of  these 
dark  regions  are  greatly  augmented  ;  and  those 
evils  are  care,  sorrow,  diseases,  old  age,  fright,  fa- 
mine, want,  labour,  sleep,  death,  sting  of  conscience, 
force,  fraud,  strife,  and  war. 

*  Vsstibulum  ante  ipsum,  primisque  in  faucibus  Orcl# 
Luctus  et  ultrices  posuere  cubilia  Cur«  ; 
Pallentesque  habitant  Morbi  tritisque  Senectus, 
Et  Metus,  et  malesuada  Fames,  et  turpis  Egestas, 
(Terribiles  visa  forma?)  Lelhumque  Laborque. 
Turn  consanguineus  Lethi  Sopor,  et  mala  mentis 
Gaudia,  mortiferumque  adverse  in  limine  BeDum. 
Ferreique  Eumenidum  thalami,et  Discordiademens 
Vipereum  crinem  vittis  innexa  cruentis."  .ZEn.  6. 

Just  in  the  gate,  and  in  the  jaws  of  Hell, 

Revengeful  Care  and  sullen  Sorrows  dwell ; 

And  pale  Diseases,  and  repining  Age, 

Want,  Fear,  and  Famine's  unresisted  rage : 

Here  Toil  and  Death,  and  Death's  half-brother,  Sleep, 

(Forms  terrible  to  view.)  their  sentry  keep. 

With  anxious  Pleasures  of  a  guilty  mind, 

Deep  Fraud  before,  and  open  force  behind  ; 

The  Furies'  iron  beds,  and  Strife  that  shakes 

Her  hissing  tresses,  and  unfolds  her  snakes. 

Charon  is  an  old  decrepid,  long-bearded  fellow  : 
he  is  the  ferryman  of  hell ;  his  f  name  denotes  the 
ungracefulness  of  his  aspect.  In  the  Greek  lan- 
guage he  is  called  UopSy.iv^,  \_Po7ihmeus,']  that  is, 
portitor  ;  "  ferryman."     You  see  his  image,  but  you 

*  Avernus  dicitur  quasi  aopve$,  id  est,  sine  avibus.  Quod  nul- 
lae  volucres  lacum  ilium,  ob  lethiferum  halitum,  pratervolare 
sulvte  posse nt. 

f  Charon,   quasi  Acbaron,  id  est,  sine  gratia  ab  a  non;  et 

^ftf>;  gratia. 


209 

may  read  a  more  beautiful  and  elegant  picture  of 
him  drawn  by  the  pen  of  Virgil. 

''  Portitor  has  horrendus  aquas  et  flumina  serva 

Terribilj  squalore  Charon  :  cui  plurima  mento 

Canities  inculta  jacet ;  stant  lumina  flamma, 

Sordidus  ex  humeris  nodo  dependet  amictus, 

Ipse  ratem  conto  subigit,  velisque  ministrat, 

Et  FeiTuginea  subvectat  corpora  cymba, 

Jam  senior  }  sed  cruda  Deo  viridisque  senectus."  *2En.  6. 

There  Charon  stands,  who  rules  the  dreary  coasts ; 

A  sordid  god  :  down  from  his  hoary  chin 

A  length  of  beard  descends,  uncorab'd,  unclean  ; 

His  eyes  like  hollow  furnaces  on  fire  ; 

A  girdle  foul  with  grease  binds  his  obscene  attire. 

He  spreads  his  canvass,  with  his  poll  he  steers  ; 

The  frights  of  flitting  ghosts  in  his  thin  bottom  bears. 

He  look'd  in  years,  yet  in  his  years  were  seen 

A  youthful  vigour,  and  autumnal  green. 

He  is  waiting  to  take  and  carry  over  to  the  other 
side  of  the  lake  the  souls  of  the  dead,  which  you  see 
flocking  on  the  shores  in  troops.  Yet  he  takes  not 
all  promiscuously  who  come,  but  such  only  whose 
bodies  are  buried  when  they  die ;  for  the  unburied 
wander  about  the  shores  an  hundred  years,  and  then 
are  carried  over. 

"  Centum  errant  annos,  volitant  haec  litora  circum  : 
Turn  demum  admissi  stagna  exoptata  revisunt." — ^n.  6. 

A  hundred  years  they  wander  on  the  shore, 
At  length,  their  penance  done,  are  wafted  o'er. 

But  first  they  pay  Charon  his  fare,  which  is  at  least 
a  halfpenny. 

There  are  three  or  four  rivers  to  be  passed  by  the 
dead.  The  first  is  Acheron,  which  receives  them 
when  they  come  first.  This  Acheron  was  the  son 
of  Terra  or  Ceres,  born  in  a  cave,  and  conceived 
without  a  father  ;  and  because  he  could  not  endure 
light,  he  ran  down  into  hell  and  was  changed  into  a 
river,  whose  waters  are  extremely  bitter. 
18* 


210 

The  second  is  Styx,  which  is  a  lake  rather  than 
a  river,  and  was  formerly  the  daughter  of  Oceanus, 
and  the  mother  of  the  goddess  Victoria  by  Acheron. 
When  Victoria  was  on  Jupiter's  side  in  his  war 
against  the  Giants,  she  obtained  the  prerogative  for 
her  mother,  that  no  oath  that  was  sworn  among  the 
gods  by  her  name,  should  ever  be  violated  :  for  if 
any  one  of  the  gods  broke  an  oath  sworn  by  Styx, 
they  were  banished  from  the  nectar  and  the  table  of* 
the  gods  a  year  and  nine  days.  This  is  the  Stygian 
'ake,  by  which  when  the  gods  swore,  they  observed 
their  oath  with  the  utmost  scrupulousness. 

"Dii  cujus  jurare  timent  et  fallere  numen."    Virg.  JEn.  6. 

The  sacred  stream  Avhich  heaven's  imperial  state 
Attests  in  oaths,  and  fears  to  violate. 

The  third  river,  Coc3^tus,  flows  out  of  Styx  with 
a  lamentable  groaning  noise,  and  imitates  the  howl- 
ing, and  increases  the  exclamations  of  the  damned. 

Next  comes  ^'Phlegethon,  or  Puriphlegeton,  so 
called  because  it  swells  with  waves  of  fire,  and  all 
its  streams  are  flames. 

When  the  souls  of  the  dead  have  passed  over  these 
four  rivers,  they  were  afterwards  carried  to  the  pa- 
lace of  Pluto,  where  the  gate  is  guarded  by  Cerbe- 
rus, a  dog  with  three  heads,  whose  body  is  covered 
in  a  terrible  manner  with  snakes,  instead  of  hair. 
This  dog  is  the  porter  of  hell,  begotten  of  Echidna, 
by  the  giant  Typhon,  and  is  described  by  Virgil 
and  by  Horace. 

"  Cerberus  hac  ingens  latratu  regna  trifauci 
Personat  adverse  recubans  immanis  in  antro." 

Stretch'd  in  his  kennel,  monstrous  Cerb'rus  round 
From  triple  jaws  made  all  these  realms  resound. 

•  A  <p\tyu^  ardeo,  quod  undis  intumeat  ignis  flammeosqne  fine* 
tus  evolvat. 


211 

**  Ccssit  immanis  tibi  blandienfi 

Janitor  auloe 
Cerberus ;  quamvis  furiale  centum 
Muniant  angues  caput  ejus ;  atque 
Spiritus  teter,  saniesque  manat 

Ore  trilingui." — 1.  3.  od.  11. 

Hell's  grisly  porter  let  you  pass, 
And  frown'd  and  listen'd  to  your  lays ; 
The  snakes  around  his  head  grew  tame, 
His  jaws  no  longer  glow'd  Avith  flame, 
Nor  triple  tongue  was  stain'd  with  blood; 
No  more  his  breath  with  venom  flow'd. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION 

Give  Virgil's  description  of  hell,  and  the  translation 
How  is  it  described  in  the  text? 
What  is  said  of  the  monsters  at  the  entrance  ? 
Give  Virgil's  description. 
Who  is  Charon  ? 
What  is  his  business  ? 
Repeat  Virgil's  description. 
Does  Charon  take  all,  promiscuously  1 
What  is  said  of  Acheron  .'' 
What  is  Styx  ? 

How  are  Cocytus  and  Phlegethon  described .' 
What  becomes  of  the  souls  of  the  dead  after  they  have  passed 
these  rivers  ? 

Repeat  Virgil's  description  of  Cerberus. 
Likewise  the  description  by  Horace. 


CHAPTER  11.  • :; 

PLUTO.    PLUTUS. 

Pluto  is  the  king  of  hell,  son  of  Saturn  and  Ops, 
and  brother  of  Jupiter  and  Neptune.  He  had  these 
infernal  dominions  allotted  to  him,  not  only  be- 
cause in  the  division  of  his  father's  kingdom  the 
western  parts  fell  to  his  lot,  but  also,  because  the 
invention  of  burying,  and  of  honouring  the  dead 


212 

with  funeral  obsequies,  proceeded  from  him  :  for  the 
same  reason  he  is  thought  to  exercise  a  sovereignty 
over  the  dead.  Look  upon  him,  he  sits  on  a  throne 
covered  with  darkness,  and  discover,  if  you  can,  his 
habit,  and  the  ensign  of  his  majesty,  more  narrowly. 
He  jiolds  a  key  in  his  hand,  instead  of  a  sceptre, 
and  is  crowned  with  ebony. 

Sometimes  he  is  crowned  with  a  diadem  ;  and 
sometimes  with  the  flowers  of  narcissus,  or  white 
daflbdils,  and  sometimes  with  cypress  leaves  ;  be- 
cause those  plants  greatly  please  him,  and  especially 
the  narcissus,  since  he  stole  away  Proserpine,  when 
she  gathered  that  flower.  Very  often  a  rod  is  put 
mto  his  hand  in  the  place  of  a  sceptre,  wath  whioh 
he  guides  the  dead  to  hell :  and  sometimes  he  wears 
a  head-piece,  which  makes  him  ^invisible.  His  cha- 
riot and  horses  are  of  a  black  colour,  and  f  when  he 
carried  away  Proserpine  he  rode  in  his  chariot.  But 
if  you  would  know  what  the  key  signifies  which  he 
has  in  his  hand,  the  answer  is  plain,  that  when  once 
the  dead  are  received  into  his  kingdom,  the  gates  are 
locked  against  them,  and  there  is  no  regress  thence 
into  this  life  again. 


-"  Facilis  descensus  Averni 


Ps^octes  atque  dies  patet  atri  janua  Ditis  ; 

Sod  revocare  gradam,  superasque  evadere  ad  auras, 

Hoc  opus,  hie  labor  est."  Virg.  ^n.  6, 

To  th'  shades  you  go  a  downhill  easy  way; 
But  to  return,  and  re-enjoy  the  day, 
That  is  a  work,  a  labour. 

His  Greek  name  JPluton  or  Pluto,  as  well  as  his 
Latin  name  Dis,  signifies  wealth.  The  reason  why 
he  is  so  called,  is,  because  all  our  wealth  comes  from 
the  lowest  and  most  inward  bowels  of  the  earth  ;  and 
because,  as  Cicero  observes,  ||all  the  natural  powders 

•  Horn.  Iliad.  5.  t  Ovid.  Met.  5.  |  UXures  divitiae. 

11  Terreiia  vis  omnis  ac  natura  ipsi  dicata  credebatur.  Cic.  de 
Nat.  Deor.  2. 


213 

and  faculties  of  the  earth  are  under  his  direction  ; 
for  all  things  proceed  from  the  earth,  and  go  thither 
again. 

The  name  A<Jjj5  \^Hades,']  by  which  he  is  called 
among  the  Greeks,  ^signifies  dark,  gloomy,  and  me- 
lancholy ;  or  else,  fas  others  guess,  invisible  ;  be- 
cause he  sits  in  darknrss  and  obscurity  :  his  habita- 
tion is  melancholy  and  lonesome,  and  he  seldom  ap- 
pears to  open  view. 

He  is  Hkewise  called  JAgesilaus,  because  he  leads 
people  to  the  infernal  regions  ;  and  sometimes  ||  Age- 
lastus,  because  it  was  never  known  that  Pluto 
laughed. 

His  name  Februus,  comes  from  the  old  w^ord  fe- 
bruo,  because  purifications  and  lustrations  were  used 
at  funerals :  whence  the  month  of  February  receives 
also  its  appellation  :  at  which  time  especially,  the 
sacrifices  called  Februo  were  offered  by  the  Romans 
to  tills  god. 

He  is  also  called  Orcus  or  Urgus,  and  Ouragus, 
as  some  sa}^,  <5>because  he  excites  and  hastens  people 
to  their  ruin  and  death  :  but  others  think  that  he  is 
so  named  ^because,  like  one  that  brings  up  the  rear 
of  an  army,  he  attends  at  the  last  moments  of  men's 
hves. 

He  is  called  Summanus,  that  is,  the  chief  ^*of  all 
the  infernal  deities  ;  the  principal  governor  of  all  the 
ghosts  and  departed  spirits.  The  thunder  that  hap- 
pens in  the  night  is  attributed  to  him  :  whence  he  is 

*  aJjjj  eeths,  id  est,  triste,  tenobrosum. 

t  A.ut  quasi  aopxTa;,  quod  videri  minimc  possit,  aut  ab  «  pri- 
vante,et£/^£<v  videre.  Socr.  ap.  Plut.  Pliurnut.  Gaza.ap.  Lil.  Gyr. 

t  Uapx  TO  aytiv  th;  Xxti;,  a  ducendis  populls  ad  inferos. 

[J  Ab  a  non,  e  yiXau  rideo,  quod  sine  risu  sit. 

§  Oicus  quasi  Urgus  et  Ouragus  ab  urgendo,  quod  homines  ur* 
geat  in  interitum.    Cic.  in  Verrem.  6. 

TI  Ovpayos,  eum  significat  qui  agmen  claudit ;  simili  mode  Plu- 
k>  postremum  humanae  vitas  actum  excipit.  Guth.  1.  i.  c.  4.  dc 
ur.  Man. 

**  Quasi  summus  Deorum  manium.    Aug.  de  Civ.  Dei.  I.  4. 


214 

commonly  styled  also,  the  Infernal  Jupiter,  the  Sty- 
gian Jupiter,  the  Third  Jupiter ;  as  Neptune  is  the 
second  Jupiter. 

The  Fates  will  tell  you  that  Pluto  presides  over 
life  and  death  ;  that  he  not  only  governs  the  depart- 
ed spirits  below,  but  also  can  lengthen  or  shorten 
the  lives  of  men  here  on  the  earth,  as  he  thinks  fit. 


0  maxime  noctis 


Arbiter,  umbrarumcjue  potens,  cui  nostra  laborant 
Stamina  qui  finem  cunctis  et  semina  proebes, 
Nascendique  vices  alterna  morte  rependis, 
Qui  vitam  lethumque  regis."  Claud,  de  Rap.  Pros^ 

Great  prince  o'  th'  gloomy  regions  of  the  dead, 
From  whom  we  hourly  move  our  wheel  and  thread, 
Of  nature's  growth  and  end  thou  hast  the  sway, 
All  mortals'  birth  with  death  thou  dost  repay. 
Who  dost  command  'em  both. 

Though  Plutus  be  not  an  infernal  god,  I  join  him 
to  Pluto,  because  their  names  and  office  are  very  si- 
milar ;  they  are  both  of  them  gods  of  riches,  which 
are  the  root  of  all  evil,  and  which  nature,  our  com- 
mon parent,  hath  placed  near  hell ;  and,  indeed, 
there  is  not  a  nearer  way  to  hell  than  to  hunt  gree- 
dily after  riches. 

Plutus  was  the  son  of  Jason,  or  Jasiiis,  by  Ceres : 
he  was  blind  and  lame,  injudicious,  and  timorous. 
And  truly  these  infirmities  are  justly  ascribed  to 
him  ;  for  if  he  were  not  blind  and  injudicious,  he 
would  never  pass  over  good  men,  and  heap  his  trea- 
sures upon  the  bad.  He  is  lame,  because  great  es- 
tates come  slowly.  He  is  fearful  and  timorous,  be- 
cause rich  men  watch  their  treasure  with  a  great 
deal  of  fear  and  care. 

qUESTIOA'-S  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Who  is  Pluto,  and  how  did  he  become  possessed  of  bi«  do* 
mmion  ? 
How  is  he  painted  ? 


215 

What  does  the  key  signify  ? 

Wliat  does  his  name  Pluto  signify,  and  why  is  he  so  called  f 

What  does  the  name  Hades  signify  ? 

Why  is  he  called  Agesilaus  ? 

From  what  does  his  name  Februus  come  ? 

Wliy  is  he  called  Orcus  ? 

Why  is  he  called  Snmmanus,  and  what  else  is  he  styled? 

Over  what  does  Pluto  preside  ? 

in  what  respects  is  Plutus  like  Pluto  ? 

Who  was  Plutus,  and  how  is  he  represented  ? 


CHAPTER  III. 

PROSERPINE.    THE  FATES.    THE  FURIES. 

She  who  sits  next  to  Pluto  is  the  Queen  of  hell, 
*the  infernal  Juno,  fthe  "  lady"  (as  the  Greeks  com- 
monly call  her,)  and  the  most  beloved  wife  of  Pluto, 
the  daughter  of  Ceres  and  Jupiter.  She  is  called 
both  Proserpine  and  Libera. 

When  all  the  goddesses  refused  to  marry  Pluto, 
because  he  was  so  deformed,  he  was  vexed  at  this 
contempt  and  scorn,  and  troubled  that  he  was  forced 
to  live  a  single  life ;  wherefore,  in  a  rage,  he  seated 
himself  in  a  chariot,  and  arose  on  a  sudden  from  a 
den  in  Sicily,  Jwhere  he  saw  a  company  of  very 
beautiful  virgins  gathering  flowers  in  the  fields  of  En- 
na,  a  beautiful  place,  situate  about  the  middle  of  the 
island.  One  of  them,  Proserpine,  pleased  him 
above  the  rest,  for  she  surpassed  them  all  in  beauty. 
He  carried  her  with  him  from  that  place,  and  on  a 
sudden  sunk  into  the  earth  near  Syracuse.  In  the 
place  where  he  descended,  a  lake  arose  :  and  Cice- 
ro says,  the  people  of  Syracuse  keep  yearly  festivals 
to  which  great  multitudes  of  both  sexes  resort. 

♦  Virg.    ^n.  6. 

f  AnToitiit,  domina.    Paus.  in  Aread. 

i  Cic.  in  Verrem.  6. 


216 

The  nymphs,   her  companions,  were  grievously 
affriglited,  and  fled  away.      In  the  mean  time  Ceres, 
the  mother  of  Proserj)ine,  seeks  her  daughter  among 
her    acquaintance  a  long  time,  but  in  vain.     She 
next  kindled  torches  by  the  flames  which  burst  out 
from  the  top  of  the  mountain  ^Etna,  and  went  with 
them,  to  seek  her  daughter  throughout  the  world  ; 
neither  did  she  give  over  her  vain  labour,  till  the 
nymph  Arethusa  fully  assured  her,  that  Proserpine 
was  stolen  by  Pluto,  and  carried  down  into  his  king- 
dom.    In  great  anger,  she  immediatly  hastened  and 
expostulated  with  Jupiter  concerning  the  violence 
that  was  ofl^ered  her  daughter ;  and  the  god  pro- 
mised to  restore  Proserpine  again,  if  she  had  not  yet 
tasted  any  thing  in  hell.     Ceres  went  joyfully  down, 
and  Proserpine,  full  of  triumph  and  gladness,  prepa- 
red to  return  into  this  world  ;  when  Ascalaphus  dis- 
covered, that  he  saw  Proserpine,  while  she  walked 
m  Pluto's  orchard,   piuck  a  promegranate,  and  eat 
some  grains  of  it ;  therefore,  Proserpine's  journey 
was  immediately  stopped.     Ceres  being  amazed  at 
tbis  new  misfortune,  and  incensed  at  the  fatal  dis- 
covery of  Ascalaphus,  turned  him  into  an  owl,  a 
bird  said  to  be  of  an  ill  omen,  and  unlucky  to  aU 
that  see  it :  but  at  last,  by  the  importunity  of  her 
prayers  to  Jupiter,  she  extorted  this  favour  from  him, 
that  he  should  permit  Proserpine  to  live  half  the 
year,  at  least  with  her  in  heaven,  and  the  other  half 
below  in  hell,  with  her  husband. 

"  Et  Dea  regnonim  numen  commune  duomm, 
Cum  maite  est  totidcm,  totidem  rum  conjuge  menses.'* 

Ov.  Met.  6 

The  goddess  now  in  eitlier  empire  sways, 
Six  montlis  with  Ceres,  six  with  Pluto  stays. 

Proserpine  afterwards  loved  this  disagreeable 
husband  so  much,  that  jealous  of  Mentha,  she 
changed  her  into  mint,  an  herb  of  her  own  name. 


217 

Let  us  now  turn  our  eyes  toward  the  tribunal  of 
Pluto ;  where  you  see,  in  that  dismal  picture,  con- 
tinual trials  :  and  all  persons,  as  well  the  accusers 
as  the  offenders,  who  have  been  formerly  wicked  in 
their  lives,  receive  their  death  impartially  from  the 
three  Fates ;  after  death  they  receive  their  sentence 
impartially  from  the  three  judges;  and  after  condem- 
nation, their  pmiishment  impartially  from  the  three 
Furies. 

The  Fates  are  represented  by  three  ladies  :  their 
garments  are  made  of  ermine,  white  as  snow,  and 
bordered  with  purple.  They  were  born  either  of 
Nox  and  Erebus,  or  of  Necessity,  or  of  the  Sea,  or 
of  that  rude  and  undigested  mass  which  the  ancients 
called  Chaos. 

They  are  called  Parcse  in  Latin ;  because,  as 
*Varro  thinks,  thej^  distributed  good  and  bad  things 
to  persons  at  their  birth  ;  or,  as  the  common  and 
received  opinion  is,  f because  they  spare  nobody. 
They  are  also  called  Fatum,  "  fate ;"  and  are  three 
in  number,  because  they  order,  the  past,  present, 
and  future  time.  JFate,  says  Cicero,  is  all  that 
which  God  hath  decreed  and  resolved  shall  come  to 
pass,  and  which  the  Grecians  call  Eif^tupf^evT}  [^Eimar- 
mene.~\  Fatum  is  derived  from  the  word  /an,  to 
pronounce  or  declare  ;  because  when  any  one  is 
bom,  these  three  sisters  pronounce  what  fate  will 
befall  him. 

Their  names  and  offices  are  as  follows  ;  the  name 
of  one  is  ||Clotho ;  the  second  is  called  §Lachesis  ; 


*  Parcae  dicuntur  partu,  a  quod  nascentibus  hominibus  bona 
malaque  conferre  censentur. 

t  Aut  a  parcendo  per  Antiphrasin,  quod  nemini  parcant, 
Serv.  in  JEn.  1. 

J  Est  autem  Fatum  id  orane  quod  a  Deo  constitutum  et  do- 
signatum  est  ul  eveniat,  quod  Greeci  ufAap/Aivi}  appellant.  D« 
Fato  et  Divinat. 

A  verbo  xkuSu  id  est,  neo. 
Ab  X«y;^;av«,  sortior. 

19 


218 

the  third  *Atropos,  because  she  is  unalterable,  un-* 
changeable.  These  names  the  Grecians  give  them, 
Nona,  Dccima,  and  Morta. 

To  them  is  intrusted  the  management  of  the  fatal 
thread  of  life  :  for  Clotho  draws  the  thread  between 
her  fingers  ;  Lachesis  turns  about  the  wheel;  and 
Atropos  cuts  the  thread  spun  with  a  pair  of  scissors. 
That  is,  Clotho  gives  us  life,  and  brings  us  into  the 
world  ;  Lachesis  determines  the  fortunes  that  shall 
befall  us  here;  and  Atropos  concludes  our  lives. 
j-One  speaks,  the  other  writes,  and  the  third  spins. 

The  Furies  have  the  faces  of  women.  Their 
looks  are  full  of  terror ;  they  hold  lighted  torches 
in  their  hands ;  snakes  and  serpents  lash  their  necks 
and  shoulders.  They  are  called  in  Latin  sometimes 
Furice  ;  Jbecause  they  make  men  mad,  by  the  stings 
of  conscience  which  guilt  produces.  They  are  also 
called  ||Dira?,  §Eumenides,  and  ITCanes ;  and  were 
the  oflspring  of  ^^Nox  and  ff  Acheron.  Their 
proper  names  are  Alecto,  Tisiphone,  and  Magsera ; 
and  they  are  esteemed  virgins ;  because,  since  they  are 
the  avengers  of  all  wickedness,  nothing  can  corrupt 
and  pervert  them  from  inflicting  the  punishment  that 
is  due  to  the  offender. 

There  are  onl}^  three  Furies,  because  there  are 
three  principal  passions  of  the  mind,  anger,  covetous- 
ness,  and  lust,  by  which  mankind  are  chiefly  hurried 
into  all  sorts  of  wickedness;  for  anger  begets  revenge, 
covetousness  provokes  us  to  get  immoderate  wealth 
by  right  or  wrong,  and  lust  persuades  us  to  pursue 
our  pleasures  at  any  rate.  Indeed  some  add  a  ffourth 
Fury,  called  Lisso     that  is,  rage  and  madness  ;  but 

*  Ab  a  privativa  particula,  et  Tpt^ru  verto,  quod  verti  et  fleet© 
nequeat. 

t  Una  loquitur,  altera  scribit,  tertia  fila  ducit.    Serv.  in  Mn.  I 
t  Quod  sceleratos  in  furorem  agant. 

11  Virg.  JEn.  3.  §  Ibid.  8.  H  Ibid.  4.  •*Ibid.  6. 

H  Ibid.  n. 


219 

she  is  easily  reduced  to  the  other  three :  as  also 
Erinnys,  a  name  common  to  them  all. 

The  office  of  the  Furies  is  to  observe  and  pmiish 
the  crimes  of  bad  men,  and  to  torment  the  conscien- 
ces of  secret  offenders  ;  whence  they  are  commonly 
also  entitled  ^the  goddesses,  the  discoverers  and  re- 
vengers of  bad  actions.  They  punish  and  torment 
the  wicked,  by  frightening  and  following  them  with 
burning  torches.  You  see  the  picture  of  them  there, 
and  you  will  find  them  beaiitifally  described  in  the 
twelfth  book  of  Virgil's  iEneld  : 

"  Dicuntur  geminfe  pestes,  cognomine  Direc, 
Qiias  ct  Tartaream  Nox  inleinpesta  Megaeram 
Uno  eodeiuque  tulit  partu,  parWDtisque  revinxit 
Serpentum  spiris,  ventosasque  addidit  alas." 

Deep  in  the  dismal  regions,  void  of  light, 

Two  daughters  at  a  birth  were  born  to  Night : 

These  their  brown  mother,  brooding  on  her  care, 

Endn'd  with  windy  wings  to  fleet  in  air, 

With  serpents  girt  alike,  and  crown'd  -with  hissing  hair, 

In  heav'n  the  Diree  call'd. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXMimATION. 

Who  was  Proserpine  ? 

How  did  Pluto  obtain  her  for  his  wife  ? 

What  steps  did  Ceres  take  to  recover  her  daughter? 

What  favour  did  Ceres  obtain  for  Proserpine  ? 

What  do  the  Fates,  the  Judges,  and  the  Furies  determine? 

Who  are  the  Fates  ? 

Why  are  they  called  Parcae  ? 

What  is  fate,  according  to  Cicero  ? 

From  what  is  the  word  '<  fate"  derived  ? 

What  are  the  names  and  offices  of  the  Fates  ? 

How  are  the  Furies  described  ? 

What  are  their  common  and  what  their  proper  names? 

Why  are  there  only  three  Furies  ? 

What  is  the  office  of  the  Furies  ? 

*  Deae  speculatrices  et  v indices  Facinorum. 


220 
CHAPTER  IV. 

NIGHT.     DEATH.     SLEEP.     THE  JUDGES  OF  HELL. 

Nox  is,  of  all  the  gods,  the  most  ancient :  she  was 
llie  sister  of  Erebus,  and  the  daughter  of  the  first 
Chaos ;  and  of  these  two,  Nox  and  Erebus,  Mors 
[deatli]  was  born.  She  is  represented  as  a  skeleton, 
(h-esscd  usually  w^ith  a  speckled  garment  and  black 
w  ings  :  but  there  are  no  temples  nor  sacrifices,  nor 
priests  consecrated  to  Mors,  b^'.^ause  she  is  a  god- 
dess whom  no  prayers  can  move,  or  sacrifices 
pacify. 

Scmnus  [*S7ee;?]  is  the  brother  of  Death,  and  also  ' 
hath  wings,  like  her.  Iris,  who  was  sent  by  Juno  to 
the  palace  of  this  god,  mentions  the  great  benefits 
that  he  bestows  c,'i  mankind  ;  such  as  quiet  of  mind, 
tranquillity,  freedom  from  care,  and  refreshment  of 
the  spirits,  by  which  men  are  enabled  to  proceed  iq 
their  labours  : 


"  Somne,  quies  rcrnm,  placldissime  Somne  Deorum, 

Pax  animi,  quein  cura  i'ugit,  qui  corpora  duris 

Fessa  minlsteriis  mulces  reparasque  labori."    Ov.  Mel.  11. 

Thou  rest  o'  th'  world,  Sleep,  the  most  peaceful  god, 
Who  drlv'st  care  from  the  mind,,  and  dost  unload 
The  tired  limbs  of  all  their  weariness, 
And  for  new  toil  the  body  dost  refresh. 

In  this  palace  there  are  two  gates,  out  of  which 
dreams  pass  and  repass  ;  one  of  these  gates  was 
made  of  clear  ivory,  through  which  false  dreams 
pass;  the  other  was  made  of  transparent  honij  and 
through  that  gate  true  visions  come  to  men  : 

"  Sunt  geminse  Somni  portcp,  quarum  altera  fertur 
Cornea,  qua  veris  facilis  datur  exitus  umbris: 
Altera  candenti  perfecta  nitens  elephanto  ; 
Sed  falsa  ad  ccelum  mittunt  insomnia  manes." 

Virg.  mn.  6. 


221 

Two  gates  the  silent  house  of  Sleep  adorn ; 
Of  polish'd  iv'ry  this,  that  of  transparent  horn  : 
True  visions  through  transparent  horn  arise  ; 
Through  polish'd  iv'ry  pass  deluding  lies. 

*Morpheus,  the  servant  of  Somnus,  who  can  put 
on  any  shape  or  figure,  presents  these  dreams  to 
those  who  sleep ;  and  these  dreams  were  brought 
from  a  great  spreading  elm  in  hell,  under  whose 
shade  they  urnially  sit. 

Near  the  three  Furies  and  the  three  Fates,  f  you 
see  the  three  judges  of  hell,  Minos,  Rhadamanthus, 
and  jEacus,  who  are  believed  to  be  judges  of  the 
souls  of  the  dead  ;  because  they  exercised  the  offices 
of  judges  in  Crete  with  the  greatest  prudence,  dis- 
cretion, and  justice.  The  first  two  were  the  sons  of 
Jupiter  by  Europa  :  the  last  was  the  son  of  Jupiter 
by  ^gina.  When  all  the  subjects  of  queen  -^gina 
were  swept  away  in  a  plague,  beside  Macus,  he 
begged  of  his  father,  that  he  would  repair  the  race 
of  mankind,  which  was  almost  extinct ;  Jupiter 
heard  his  prayer,  and  turned  Ja  great  multitude  of 
ants,  which  crept  about  a  hollow  old  oak,  into  men, 
who  afterward  were  called  Myrmidones,  from  M-^p^k 
[Jllurmex,']  which  word  signifies  an  ant. 

These  three  had  their  particular  province  assign- 
ed by  Pluto  in  this  manner  :  Rhadamanthus  was  ap- 
pointed to  judge  the  Asiatics,  and  jEacus  the  Euro- 
peans, each  holding  a  staff  in  his  hand  ;  but  Minos 
holds  a  golden  Sceptre  and  sits  alone,  and  oversees 
the  judgments  of  Rhadamanthus  and  iEacus ;  and 
if  in  their  courts  there  arose  a  case  that  w^as  ambi- 
guous and  difficult,  then  Minos  used  to  take  the  cog- 
nizance thereof,  and  decide  it.  Cicero  adds  to  these 
a  fourth  judge,  Triptolemus ;  but  we  have  already 
discoursed  of  him  in  his  proper  place. 

•  Ovid.  Met.  11.  Virg.  JEn.  6. 
t  Horn.  Odyss.  2. 
i  Ovid.  Met.  7.    Plata  in  Georg. 
19* 


222 
quESTiojys  for  examikatioj^ 

Who  is  Nox,  and  how  was  INIors  produced? 
How  is  Mors,  or  Death,  represented? 

Who  is  Somnus,  and  what  benefits  does  he  bestow  on  man' 
kind  ? 

Who  is  Morpheus  and  Somnus  ? 

Who  are  the  judges  of  hell,  and  whose  sons  were  they  ? 

What  is  the  origin  of  the  Myrmidones  ? 

What  was  the  province  of  the  judges  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  MOST  FAMOUS  OF  THE  CONDEMNED  IN  HELL 

From  the  judges  let  us  proceed  to  the  criminals, 
whom  you  see  represented  there  in  horrid  colours. 
It  will  be  enough  if  we  take  notice  of  the  most  cele- 
brated of  them,  and  notice  their  crimes,  and  the 
punishments  inflicted  on  them. 

The  giants  were  the  sons  of  Terra  [the  eartK^ 
when  she  received  the  blood  of  Coelum,  which  flow- 
ed from  that  dishonourable  wound  given  him  by  his 
son  Saturn.  They  are  all  very  tall  i4i  stature,  with 
horrible  dragon's  feet ;  their  looks  and  their  bodies 
are  altogether  full  of  terror.  Their  impudence  *was 
so  great,  that  they  strove  to  depose  Jupiter  from  the 
possession  of  heaven  ;  and  when  they  engaged  with 
the  celestial  gods,  they  fheaped  up  mountains  upon 
mountains,  and  thence  darted  trees,  set  on  fire, 
against  the  gods  and  heaven.  They  hurled  also 
prodigious  massy  stones  and  solid  rocks,  some  of 
which,  falling  upon  the  earth  again,  became  moun- 
tains ;  others  fell  into  the  sea,  and  became  islands. 
This  Jbattle  was  fought  upon  the  Phlegrsean  plains, 
near  the  borders  of  Campania,   Hwhich  country  is 

*  Horn.  Odyss.  12.  t  Ovid.  Met.  1. 

{  Nat.  Comes,  1. 6.  1|  Horn.  Hymn,  in  Apollin. 


223 

called  Phlegra,  from  (p'Kiyu  \^phltgo'\  uro,  for  it 
abounds  in  subterraneous  fires,  and  hot  baths  flow- 
ing continually.  The  giants  were  beaten  and  all 
cut  off,  either  by  Jupiter's  thunder,  Apollo's  arrows, 
or  by  the  arms  of  the  rest  of  the  gods.  And  some 
say,  that  out  of  the  blood  of  the  slain,  which  was 
spilt  upon  the  earth,  serpents  and  such  envenomed 
and  pernicious  animals  were  produced.  The  most 
eminent  of  those  giants  were, 

Typhoeus,  or  Typhon,  the  son  of  Juno,  had  no 
father.  So  vast  was  his  magnitude,  that  he  touched 
the  east  with  one  hand,  and  the  west  with  the  other, 
and  the  heavens  with  the  crown  of  his  head.  A  hun- 
dred dragon's  heads  grew  from  his  shoulders ;  his 
body  was  covered  with  feathers,  scales,  rugged  hair, 
and  adders  ;  from  the  ends  of  his  fingers  snakes  issu- 
ed, and  his  two  feet  had  the  shape  and  folds  of  a 
serpent's  body ;  his  eyes  sparkled  with  fire,  and  his 
mouth  belched  out  flames.  He  was  at  last  over- 
come, and  thrown  down ;  and,  lest  he  should  rise 
again,  the  whole  island  of  Sicily  was  laid  upon  him  • 

"  Nititur  ille  quidem,  pugnatque  resurgere  saepe : 
Dextra  sed  Ausonio  manus  est  subjecta  Peloro  ; 
T.aeva,  Pachyne,  tibi?  Lilybaeo  crura  premuntur; 
Praegravat  ^tna  caput."  Ovid.  Met.  6. 

He  struggles  oft,  and  oft  attempts  to  rise ; 

But  on  his  right  hand  vast  Pelorus  lies ; 

On's  left  Pachynus ;  Lilybaeus  spreads 

O'er  his  huge  thighs ;  £uid  ^tna  keeps  his  heads. 

This  island  was  also  called  Trinacria,  because  it 
bears  the  shape  of  a  triangle,  in  the  corners  of  which 
are  the  three  promontories,  Pelorus,  Pachynus,  and 
Lilybaeus ;  Pelorus  was  placed  on  his  right  hand, 
Pachynus  on  his  left,  and  Lilybseus  lay  upon  his 
legs. 

^geon  was  another  prodigious  and  cruel  giant: 
Virgil  tells  us  that  he  had  fifty  heads  and  a  hundred 


224 

hands,  from  which  he  was  called  Centumgeminu* 
and  by  the  Grecians,  Briareus. 

"iEgeon  qualis,  centum  cui  brachia  dicunt, 
Centenasque  manus,  quinquaginta  oribus  ignem 
Pectoribusque  arsisse  :  Jovis  cum  fulmina  contra 
Tot  paribus  streperet  clypeis,  tot  stringeret  enses." 

JEn.  10 

And  as  ^Egeon,  when  with  heav'n  he  strove, 
Stood  opposite  in  arms  to  mighty  Jove, 
Mov'd  all  his  hundred  hands,  provok'd  to  war, 
Defy'd  the  forky  lightning  from  afar : 
At  fifty  mouths  his  flaming  breath  expires, 
And  flash  for  flash  returns,  and  fires  for  fires ; 
In  his  right  hands  as  many  swords  he  wields 
And  takes  the  thunder  on  as  many  shields. 

He  hurled  a  hundred  rocks  against  Jupiter  at  one 
throw ;  yet  Jupiter  dashed  him  down,  bound  him  in 
a  hundred  chains,  and  thrust  him  under  the  moun- 
tain jEtna  ;  where,  as  soon  as  he  moves  his  side,  the 
mountain  casts  forth  great  flames  of  fire. 

Tityus  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Elara,  born  in 
a  subterraneous  cave,  in  which  Jupiter  hid  his  mo- 
ther, fearing  the  anger  of  Juno.  She  brought  forth 
a  child  of  so  prodigious  a  bulk  that  the  earth  was 
rent  to  give  him  a  passage  out  of  the  cave ;  and 
thence  he  was  believed  to  be  a  son  of  the  earth. 
Juno  afterward  persuaded  this  giant  to  accuse  Lato- 
na  of  criminal  conduct ;  for  which  Jupiter  struck 
him  with  thunder  down  into  hell :  there  he  lies, 
stretched  out,  covering  nine  acres  of  ground  with 
his  body ;  and  a  vulture  continually  gnaws  his 
liver,  which  grow  s  again  every  month  : 

"Nee  non  et  Tityon,  terras  omniparentis  alumnum, 
Cernere  erat ;  cui  tota  novem  per  jugera  corpus 
Porrigitur,  rostroque  immanis  vultur  obunco 
Immortale  jecur  tundens,  fcecundaque  poenis 
Viscera,  rimaturque  epulis,  habitatque  sub  alto 
Pectore  :  nee  fibris  requies  data  ulla  renatis/ '   Virg.  JEn,  6, 

There  Tityus  tortur'd  lay,  who  took  his  birth 
From  heav'n,  his  nursing  from  the  fruitful  earth ; 


225 

Here  his  gigantic  limbs,  with  large  embrace. 

Infold  nine  acres  of  infernal  space  : 

A  rav'nous  vulture  in  his  open  side 

Her  crooked  beak  and  cruel  talons  try'd ; 

Still,  for  the  growing  liver  digg'd  his  breast, 

The  growing  liver  still  snpply'd  the  feast; 

Still  are  the  entrails  fruitful  to  their  pains, 

Th'  immortal  hunger  lasts,  tli'  immortal  food  remains. 

To  tliese  we  may  add  the  Titans,  the  sons  of  Ter- 
ra and  Coelum ;  the  chief  of  whom  was  Titanus, 
Saturn's  eldest  brother  :  they  made  war  against  Sa- 
tm-n,  because  the  birth  of  Jupiter  was  concealed, 
and  conquered  him  ;  but  they  were  afterward  over- 
come by  Jupiter,  and  cast  down  into  hell. 

Phlegyas,  who  was  the  king  of  the  Lapithae  in 
Thessaha,  and  the  father  of  the  nymph  Coronis. 
When  he  heard  that  Apollo  had  deceived  his  daugh- 
ter, he  went  in  anger  and  fn-ed  the  temple  of  Apollo 
at  Delphi :  for  which  the  enraged  god  shot  him 
through  the  body  with  an  arrow,  and  inflicted  on 
him  the  following  punishment :  A  great  stone  hangs 
over  his  head,  which  he  imagines  every  moment  will 
fail  down  and  crush  him  to  pieces  : 

"Quos  super  atr?i  sllex  jamjam  lapsura,  cadentique 
Imminet  assimilis."  Virg.  ^n.  6. 


-A  massy  stone. 


Ready  to  drop,  hangs  o'er  his  cursed  head. 

Thus  he  sits,  perpetually  fearing  what  will  never 
come  to  pass  ;  which  makes  him  frequently  call  out 
to  men,  to  observe  the  rules  of  justice  and  the  pre- 
cepts of  religion : 

"  Discite  justitiam  moniti,  et  non  temnere  Divos." 
Learn  justice  hence,  and  don't  despise  the  gods. 

Ixion  was  the  son  of  Phlegyas  :  he  killed  his  own 
sister,  and  obtained  his  pardon  from  the  gods,  who 


226 

advanced  him  to  heaven  ;  and  his  prosperity  made 
him  so  arrogant,  that  he  attempted  to  make  love  to 
Juno.  This  insolent  attempt  was  discovered  to  Ju- 
piter, who  sent  a  cloud  in  the  shape  of  Juno,  which 
tlie  deceived  lover  embraced,  and  thence  those  mon- 
sters, the  Centaurs,  were  born  :  he  was  then  thrown 
down  to  the  earth  again  ;  where,  because  he  boast- 
ed every  where  that  he  had  gained  the  heart  of  the 
queen  of  the  gods,  he  was  struck  with  thunder  down 
into  hell,  and  tied  fast  to  a  wheel,  which  continy- 
ally  turns  about. 

Salmoneus  was  king  of  Elis ;  his  ambition  was 
not  satisfied  with  an  earthly  crown,  for  he  desired 
divine  honours  ;  and,  that  the  people  might  esteem 
him  a  god,  he  built  a  brazen  bridge  over  the  city, 
and  drove  his  chariot  upon  it,  imitating  by  this 
noise  Jupiter's  thunder ;  he  also  threw  down  light- 
ed torches,  and  those  who  were  struck  by  them, 
were  taken  and  killed.  Jupiter  would  not  suffer  so 
great  insolence,  and  therefore  threw  the  proud  man 
Irom  his  stage  into  hell,  where  iEneas,  when  he 
visited  the  infernal  regions,  saw  him  punished  as 
Virgil  relates  ; 

"  Vidi  crudeles  dantem  Salmonea  poenas, 

Dum  flammas  Jovis  et  sonitus  imitatur  Olympi."     ^n  6. 

Salmoneus  suffering  cruel  pains  I  found, 
For  emulating  Jove  ;  the  rattling  sound 
Of  mimic  thunder,  and  the  glitt'ring  blaze 
Of  pointed  lightnings,  and  their  forked  rays. 

Sisiphus  was  a  famous  robber  killed  by  Theseus  , 
he  ts  condemned  in  hell  to  roll  *a  great  and  unwiel- 
dy stone  to  the  top  of  a  high  hill,  and  as  oft  as  the 
stone  almost  touches  the  top  of  the  mountain,  it 
slides  down  again. 

The  Belides  were  fifty  virgin  sisters,  so  called 

*  In^ens  et  non  exsuperabile  sasum.    Virg, 


227 

from  their  grandfather  Belus  ;  and  named  also  Da- 
naides,  from  their  father  Danaijs,  who  married  them 
to  the  fifty  sons  of  his  brother.  The  oracle  fore- 
told, that  Danaijs  should  be  slain  by  his  son-in-law  ; 
wherefore  he  commanded  his  daughters  to  provide 
daggers,  and  on  iheir  wedding-night  to  kill  their 
husbands.  The  daughters  performed  their  promises, 
and  killed  their  husbands,  except  Hypermnestra,  for 
she  spared  Lynceus,  her  husband,  who  afterward 
kdlcd  Danaiis,  and  took  his  kingdom.  This  great 
impiety  was  thus  punished :  they  were  condemned 
to  draw  water  out  of  a  deep  well,  and  fill  a  tub,  that 
(like  a  seive)  is  full  of  holes ;  the  water  runs  out  as 
fast  as  it  is  put  in,  so  they  are  tormented  with  a  per- 
petual and  unprofitable  labour. 

"  Assiduas  repetunt  quas  perdunt  Belides  undas."- 

Ovid.  Mel.  4. 

They  hourly  fetch  the  water  that  they  spill. 

Tantalus,  another  remarkable  criminal,  was  the 
son  of  Jupiter  and  the  nymph  Plota.  He  invited  all 
the  gods  to  a  feast,  to  get  a  plain  and  clear  proof  of 
their  divinity  :  when  they  came,  he  killed  and  quar- 
tered his  own  son  Pelops,  and  boiled  him  and  set 
tlie  joints  before  them  to  eat.  All  the  gods  abstain- 
ed from  such  horrible  diet,  except  Ceres,  who  being 
melancholy  and  inattentive  from  the  recent  loss  of 
her  daughter,  eat  one  of  the  child's  shoulders.  Af 
terward  the  gods  sent  Mercury  to  recall  him  to  life, 
nnd  gave  him  an  ivory  shoulder,  instead  of  the 
shoulder  which  Ceres  had  eaten.  This  Pelops  was 
the  husband  of  Hippodamia,  who  bore  him,  Atreus, 
and  Thyestes  ;  the  latter  of  whom  was  banished,  be- 
cause he  seduced  CErope  his  brother  Atreus'  wife ; 
and  when  he  was  recalled  from  banishment,  he  eat 
up  his  children ;  for  Atreus  killed  them,  and  had 
them  served  in  dishes  to  the  table,  where  he  and 
Thyestes  dined  together.     It  is  said,  that  the  sun 


2^8 

could  not  endure  so  horrible  a  sight,  and  turned  his 
course  back  again  to  the  east.  But  as  Tantalus' 
crime  was  greater,  so  was  his  punishment ;  *for  he 
is  tormented  with  eternal  Iiunger  and  thirst  in  the 
midst  of  plenty,  both  of  meat  and  drink:  he  stands 
in  water  up  to  his  lips,  but  cannot  reach  it ;  and 
fruit  is  placed  just  to  his  mouth,  which  he  cannot 
take  hold  of.  Ovid  mentions  the  punishment  of  Tan- 
talus, but  assigns  another  reason  for  it ;  namely,  be- 
cause he  divulged  the  secrets  of  the  gods  to  men. 

"  Qucerit  aquas  in  aqiiis,  et  poma  fugacia  captat 
Tantalus,  hoc  illi  gariula  lingua  dedit." 

Now  this  fable  of  Tantalus  represents  the  condi- 
tion of  a  miser,  who  in  the  midst  of  plenty  suffers 
want,  and  wants  as  much  the  things  which  he  has, 
as  those  which  he  has  not ;  as  Horace  rightly  says, 
where  he  applies  this  fable  of  Tantalus  to  the  real 
wants  of  the  covetous  man. 

"  Tantalus,  a  labris  sitiensfugientia  captat 
Fluraina.     Quid  rides  ?  mutato  nomine,  dfe  te 
Fabula  narratur.  Serm.  1.  1. 

Though  Tantalus,  you've  heard,  does  stand  chin  deep 
In  water,  yet  he  cannot  get  a  sip  : 
At  which  you  smile  ;  now  all  on't  would  be  true, 
Were  the  name  changed,  and  the  tale  told  of  you. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  EXAMIKATIOX. 

Who  were  the  Giants  ? 

How  are  they  and  their  actions  described  ? 

How  were  they  subdued  ? 

Who  was  Typba^us  or  Typlion,  and  how  is  he  described* 

What  became  of  him  ? 

W'ho  Avas  iEgeon,  and  what  were  his  other  names  ' 

What  became  of  h'lm  when  he  was  subdued  ? 

Wiio  w  as  Tityus  ? 

What  became  of  him  ? 

Who  were  the  Titans,  and  w  hat  is  said  of  their  chiel  f 

*  Horn.  Odyss.  11. 


259 

Who  was  Phleg^-as ;  what  was  his  crime  ;  and  what  his  pun 
ishment  ? 

What  is  said  of  Ixion  ? 

What  is  said  of  Salmoneus  ? 

Wbo  was  Sysyphus  ;  and  what  his  punishment  ? 

Who  were  the  Belides  ? 

What  is  the  history  of  Tantalus  ? 

What  are  the  lines  of  Horace  descriptive  of  Tantalus? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MONSTERS  OF  HELL.     ELYSIUM.     LETHE. 

There  are  many  strange  pictures  of  these  infer- 
nal monsters,  but  the  most  deformed  are  the  Cen- 
taurs, who  were  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Thessalia, 
and  the  first  who  tamed  horses,  and  used  them  in 
war.  Their  neighbours,  who  first  saw  them  on 
horseback,  thought  that  they  had  partly  the  mem- 
bers of  a  man,  and  partly  the  limbs  of  a  horse.  But 
the  poets  tell  us  another  story  ;  for  they  say  that  Ixion 
begat  them  of  a  cloud,  whence  they  are  called  *Nu- 
biginae  ;  and  Bacchus  is  said  to  have  overcome  them. 

Geryon,  because  he  was  the  king  of  three  islands 
called  Balearides,  is  feigned  to  have  three  bodies  ; 
or,  it  ma}^  be,  because  there  were  three  bodies  of  the 
same  name,  whose  minds  and  afiections  were  so 
united,  that  they  seemed  to  be  governed  and  to  live 
by  one  soul.  They  add,  that  Geryon  kept  oxen, 
which  devoured  the  strangers  that  came  to  him  • 
they  were  gutirded  by  a  dog  with  two  heads,  and  a 
dragon  with  seven.  Hercules  killed  the  guards  and 
drove  the  oxen  away. 

The  Harpies,  so  called  f  from  their  rapacity,  were 
born  of  Oceanus  and  Terra.     They  had  the  faces  of 

•  Virg.  Mn.  6. 
t  Ab  afxtxlu,  rapio. 

20 


230 

virgins  and  the  bodies  of  birds  ;  their  hands  were 
nrmed  with  claws,  and  their  habitation  was  in  the 
islands.  Their  names  were  ^llo,  Ocypete,  and  Ce- 
leno  ;  which  last  brought  forth  Zeph}  rus,  the  "  west 
wind,"  and  Balius,  and  Xaiitkiis,  the  horse  of  Achil- 
les. Virgil  gives  us  an  elegant  description  of  these 
tJirce  sisters. 

*'  At  sublto3  horrifico  lapsu  de  montihus  adsunt 
Harpyac;  et  niai^uis  f]Matiunt  clangoribus  alas: 
Sive  T)ex,  sea  sunt  Dira?,  obsca^;ueque  volucres. 
Tristius  iiaud  illis  monstnim  est.  nee  seevior  ulla 
Pestis  et  ii-a  Deiini,  Stygiis  sese  cxtulit  undis. 
Virginei  voliicnim  vultus,  fcedissima  ventris 
Proluvies.  mica^que  manus,  ct  pallida  semper 
Ora  fame."  JEn.S. 

When  from  the  mountain  tops,  Avitli  hideous  cry 
And  clattering  wings,  the  filthy  harjiies  fly: 
Monsters  more  fierce  o.'iended  heav'n  ne'er  sent, 
From  hell's  abyss,  for  human  punishment. 
With  virgin  faces,  l)ut  with  wombs  obscene ; 
Foul  paunches,  and  with  ordure  still  unclean; 
With  claws  for  hands,  and  looks  forever  lean. 

To  the  three  Harpies  add  the  three  Gorgons,  Me- 
dusa, Stheno,  and  Euryale,  who  were  the  daughters 
of  Phorcus  and  Cete.  Instead  of  hair,  their  heads 
were  covered  with  vipers,  w^hich  so  terrified  the  be-* 
holder,  that  they  turned  him  presently  into  a  stone. 
Perhaps  they  intended  to  represent,  by  this  part  of 
the  fable,  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  these  sisters  ; 
which  was  such,  that  whoever  saw  them  were  ama- 
zed, and  stood  immoveable  like  stones.  There  were 
other  Gorgons  beside,  born  of  the  same  parents,  who 
were  called  Latrise,  or  Empusje.  They  had  only 
one  eye  and  one  tooth,  common  to  them  all :  they 
kept  this  tooth  and  eye  at  home  in  a  little  vessel, 
and  which  ever  of  them  went  abroad,  she  used  them. 
They  had  the  faces  of  women,  and  also  the  necks 
and  breasts ;  but  below  they  were  covered  with 
scales,  and  had  the  tails  of  serpents.  They  used  to 
entice  men,. and  then  devour  them. 


231 

The  Chimaera  *\vas  r*  monster,  which  vomited 
forth  fire  ;  he  had  the  head  and  breast  of  a  lion,  the 
body  of  a  croat,  and  the  tail  of  a  dragon,  as  it  is  ex- 
pressed in  a  known  verse,  and  described  by  Ovid  : 

"  Prima  leo,  postrema  draco,  media  inde  capella." 

A  lion's  head  and  breast  resejuble  his, 
His  waist  a  goat's,  !iis  tail  a  dragon's  is. 

"  Quoque  Chimffirajugo  niediis  in  partibus  ignera, 
Pectus  et  ora  lea.',  caudam  sorpentis  habebat."     Met.  9. 

And  on  the  cr.Tgijy  top 

Chima^ra  dwell?,  ^vith  lion's  face  and  mane, 
A  goat's  rough  body,  and  a  serpent's  train. 

A  volcano  ni  Lycia  occasioned  this  fable ;  for 
in  the  top  of  the  mountain  were  lions ;  in  the  mid- 
dle, where  was  pasture,  goats  lived  ;  and  the  bottom 
of  it  abounded  with  serpents.  Bellerophon  made 
'his  mountain  habitable,  and  therefore  is  said  to  have 
killed  the  Chimaera. 

The  monster  Sphynx  was  begotten  of  Typhon  and 
Echidna.  She  had  the  head  and  breast  of  a  woman, 
the  wings  of  a  bird,  the  body  of  a  dog,  and  the  paws 
of  a  lion.  She  lived  in  the  mountain  Sphincius,  as- 
saulted all  passengers,  and  infested  the  country 
about  Thebes  ;  insomuch  that  the  oracle  of  Apollo 
was  consulted  concerning  her,  and  answer  was  made, 
that  unless  somebody  did  resolve  the  riddle  of 
Sphynx,  there  would  be  no  end  to  that  great  evil. 
Many  endeavoured  to  explain  it,  but  were  overcome, 
and  torn  in  pieces  by  the  monster.  Creon,  at  that 
time  king  of  Thebes,  published  an  edict  through  all 
Greece,  in  which  if  any  one  could  explain  the  riddle 
of  Sphinx,  he  promised  that  he  would  give  him  to 
wife  his  own  sister  Jocasta.  The  riddle  was  this ; 
f"  What  animal  is  that,  which  walks  upon  four  {eet 
in  the  morning,  upon  two  at  noon,  and  upon  three 

*  Hom.  Iliad.  24. 

t  Quidam  animal  mane  quadrupes,  meridie  falpes,  vesperi  tri- 
pes esset .' 


232 

at  night  ?"  QCdlpus,  encouraged  with  the  hopes  of 
the  reward,  undertook  it,  and  happily  explained  it ; 
so  that  the  Spliynx  was  enraged,  and  cast  herself 
headlong  into  the  sea,  and  died.  He  said,  that  the 
animal  was  a  man,  who  in  his  infancy  creeps  upon 
his  hands  and  feet,  and  so  may  be  said  to  go  on 
four  feet ;  when  he  grows  up  he  walks  on  two  feet ; 
but  when  he  grows  old,  he  uses  the  support  of  a  stafl, 
and  so  may  be  said  to  walk  on  three  feet. 

This  CEdipuswas  the  son  of  Laius,  king  of  Thebes, 
Soon  after  his  birth,  Laius  commanded  a  soldier  to 
carry  his  son  QCdipus  into  a  wood,  and  then  destroy 
him  ;  because  it  had  been  foretold  by  the  oracle, 
that  he  should  be  killed  by  his  own  son.  But  the 
soldier  was  moved  with  pity  toward  the  child,  and 
afraid  to  imbrue  his  hands  in  royal  blood  ;  where- 
fore he  pierced  his  feet  with  a  hook,  and  hanged 
him  on  a  tree  to  be  killed  with  hunger.  One  of  the 
shepherds  of  Polybius,  king  of  Corinth,  found  him, 
and  brought  him  to  the  queen,  who,  because  she  had 
no  children,  educated  him  as  her  own  son,  and  from 
'^his  swollen  feet  called  him  CEdipus.  When  CEdi- 
pus  came  to  age,  he  knew  that  king  Polybius  was 
not  his  father,  and  therefore  resolved  to  find  out  his 
parents  :  he  consulted  the  oracle,  and  was  told  that 
he  should  meet  his  father  in  Phocis.  In  his  jour- 
ney he  met  some  passengers,  among  whom  was  his 
father,  but  he  knew  him  not :  a  quarrel  arose,  and 
in  the  fray  he  by  chance  killed  his  father.  After 
this  he  proceeded  on  his  journey,  and  arrived  al 
Thebes,  where  he  overcame  Sphynx,  and  for  his  re- 
ward married  Jocasta,  whom  he  knew  not  to  be  his 
mother  then,  but  discovered  it  afterward.  He  had, 
by  her,  two  sons,  Eteocles  and  Polynices,  and  two 
daugters,  Antigone  and  Ismena.     fWhen  afterward 

*  Puerum  (Edipum  vovacit  a  tumere  pedum  othu  enira  tumea 
et  5raj  pedem  significat. 
t  Senecee  (Edip. 


233 

he  found,  by  clear  proof,  that  he  had  killed  his  fa 
ther,  and  married  his  mother,  he  was  seized  with  so 
great  madness  that  he  pulled  out  his  own  eyes,  and 
would  have  killed  himself,  if  his  daughter  Antigone 
(who  led  him  about  alter  he  was  blind)  had  not  hin- 
dered him. 

Eteocles  and  Polynices,  the  sons  of  CEdipus  and 
Jocasta,  ^succeeded  their  father  in  the  government ; 
and  they  agreed  to  reign  a  year  each,  in  their  turns. 
Eteocles  reigned  the  first  year,  and  then  refused  to 
admit  his  brother  Polynices  to  the  throne  ;  upon 
which  a  war  arose,  and  the  two  brothers,  in  a  duel, 
killed  each  other.  Their  enmity  lasted  longer  than 
their  lives ;  for  when  their  bodies  were  placed  on 
the  same  pile,  to  be  burnt  by  the  same  fire,  the 
flames  refused  to  unite,  but  divided  themselves  into 
two  parts. 

There  is  a  place  in  the  infernal  dominions  abound- 
ing with  pleasures  and  delights,  which  is  called  the 
Elysium  ;  fbecause  thither  the  souls  of  the  good  re- 
sort, after  they  are  loosed  from  the  chains  of  the 
bod}  V  and  have  been  purified  from  the  light  offences 
that  they  had  contracted  in  this  world  : 

"  Quisque  snos  patimur  manes ;  exinde  per  amplum 
Mittiniur  Elysium,  et  pauci  laeta  arva  tenemus."     Mn.  6. 

All  have  their  manes,  and  those  manes  bare  : 
The  few  Avho're  cleans'd,  to  those  abodes  repair, 
And  breathe  in  ample  fields  the  soft  Elysian  air. 

^neas  received  this  account  from  one  of  the  In- 
habitants of  it,  as  V'rgil  tells  us,  who  describes  this 
place  as  abounding  v/ith  all  the  delights  that  the 
most  pleasant  plains,  and  the  finest  and  most  tempe- 
rate air,  can  produce. 

•  Stat.  Theb, 

t  Ato  rr.s  xmiui,  a  solutione  -,   quod  Animae  piorum  corpo- 
reis  3olutae  vinculis,  loca  illi  petant  postquam  purgatae  sunt  a 
levioribus  noxis  quas  contraxerent. 
20* 


234 

Dcvenere  locos  laetos,  et  amaena  vireta 
Fortunatorum  nemorum,  sedesque  beatas. 
Largior  hie  carnpos  aither  et  lumina  vestit 
Purpureo  :  solemque  suum  sua  sidera  norunt. 
These  holy  rites  perform'd,  they  took  their  way 
Where  long  extended  plains  of  pleasure  lay. 
The  verdant  fields  with  those  of  heav'n  may  vie, 
"With  ether  vested,  and  a  purple  sky: 
The  blissful  seats  of  happy  souls  below, 
Stars  of  their  own,  and  their  own  sun  they  know."* 

There  is  a  river  in  hell  called  Lethe,  -j-from  the 
forgetfulness  it  causes.  For  if  any  body  drinks  this 
water,  he  immediately  forgets  all  things  past  5  so  that 
when  the  souls  of  the  pious  have  spent  many  ages  in 
the  Ely  si  an  fields,  they  drink  the  water  of  Lethe, 
and  are  believed  to  pass  into  new  bodies,  and  return 
into  the  world  again  :  and  it  is  necessary  they  should 
forget  both  the  pleasures  they  have  received  in  Elysi- 
um, and  the  miseries  they  did  formerly  endure  in  this 
life,  that  they  may  willingly  return  into  this  miserable 
ife  again.  These  souls  went  out  from  Elysium  by 
that  ivory  gate  ;  which  you  see  painted  in  the  lower 
part  of  this  wall : 

Animse,  quibus  altera  fate 

Corpora  debentur,  Lethaji  ad  fluminis  undara 

Securos  latices  et  longa  oblivia  potant.  Virg.  ^n,  6. 

Souls  that  by  fate 

Are  doom'd  to  take  new  shapes,  at  Lethe's  brink 
QuatF  drafts  secure  and  long  oblivion  drink. 

•  Mr.  Cliffton,  an  American  poet,  thus  beautifully  describes  the 
charms  of  Elysium,  in  lines  which  would  do  honour  to  Pope, 

"There,  rage  no  storms;  the  sun  diffuses  there 
His  temper'd  beams,  thro'  skies  for  ever  fair. 
There  gentler  airs,  o'er  brakes  of  myrtle  blow; 
Hills  greener  rise,  and  purer  waters  flow  ; 
There  bud  the  woodbine  and  the  jes,mine  pale,' 
With  ev'ry  bloom  that  scents  the  morning  gale; 
While  thousand  melting  sounds  the  breezes  bear, 
In  silken  dalliance  to  the  dreaming  ear. 
And  golden  fruits,  'mid  shadowy  blossoms,  shine, 
In  fields  immortal  and  in  groves  divine. 

t  A<r»  wi  y%6nt,  ab  oblivio  ne. 


235  \ 

quESTI0^'s  for  examinatioj^. 

What  is  said  of  the  Centaurs  ? 
What  is  the  history  of  Geryon  ? 
Who  were  the  Harpies  ? 
What  is  said  of  the  Gorgons  ? 

What  is  said  of  the  Chimsera,  and  what  was  ihe  occasion  of  Uiir 
fable  ? 

What  Is  the  history  of  Sphynx  ? 

Who  explained  it  ? 

Give  the  history  of  (Edipns. 

What  is  the  Elysium,  and  how  is  it  described? 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Virgil. 

What  is  said  of  the  river  Lethe  ? 

Repeat  the  lines  from  Virgil. 

Repeat  the  lines  of  Mr.  Ciififton,  in  the  note 


PART  y. 

OF  THE 

DU  MINORUM  GENTIUM; 

OR, 

THE  SUBORDINATE  DEITIES. 

CHAPTER  I.  ^ 

THE  PENATES.    THE  LARES. 

The  fifth  division  of  this  Fabulous  Pantheon  con- 
tains the  inferior  or  subordinate  gods :  the  Latins  gen- 
erally called  them  Dii  Minorum  Gentium,  and  some- 
times Semones,  Minuti,  Plebeii,  and  Patellarii. 

The  Penates  are  so  called  from  the  Latin  word 
jpenus,  which  word,  "^Cicero  says,  includes  every 
thing  that  man  eats.  Or  they  have  perhaps  this  name 
from  the  place  allotted  to  them  in  the  heavens,  f  be- 
cause they  are  placed  in  the  most  inward  and  private 
parts  of  the  heavens  where  they  reign  :  hence  they 
call  them  f  Penetrales,  and  the  place  of  their  abode 
Penetrale.  They  entirely  govern  us  by  their  reason, 
their  heat,  and  their  spirit,  so  that  we  can  neither 
live,  nor  use  our  understanding  without  them  ;  yet 
we  know  neither  their  number  nor  names.  The  an- 
cient Hetrusci  called  them  Consentes  and  Compli- 

•  Est  enim  penus  omne  quo  vescuntnr  homines.  De  Nat.  Deor. 

t  Quod  penitus  insideant,  ex  quo  Penetrales  a  Poetis  vocantur, 
rt  locus  in  quo  servabantur  eorum  effigies 'Penetrale  dictus.  Var» 
ro  ap.  Arnob.  1. 3. 


237 

ces  ;  supposing  that  they  are  Jupiter's  counsellors, 
and  the  chief  of  the  gods  ;  and  many  reckon  Jupi- 
ter himself,  together  with  Juno  and  Minerva,  among 
the  Penates.  But  1  will  give  you  more  distinct  and 
particular  information  in  this  matter. 

There    were    three  orders  of   the  Dii   Penates  : 

1.  Those  who  governed  ^kingdoms  and  provinces, 
and   were    absolutely    and   solely    called    Penates. 

2.  Those  who  presided  over  cities  only  ;  and  these 
were  called  the  f"  gods  of  the  country,"  or  the  "great 
gods  :"  ^neas  makes  mention  of  them  in  Virgil. 

"Tu,  genitor,  cape  sacra  raanu,  patriosque  Penates." 

Mn.  2. 

Our  country  gods,  the  reliques  and  the  bands, 
Hold  you,  my  faUier,  in  your  guiltless  hands. 

3.  Those  who  preside  over  particular  houses  and 
families,  and  these  were  called  the  J"  small  gods  :" 
The  poets  make  frequent  mention  of  them,  especially 
Virgil,  who  in  one  place  mentions  fifty  maid-servants 
whose  business  it  was  to  look  after  their  affairs,  and 
•^to  offer  sacrifices  to  the  household  gods :  and  in  ||ano- 
ther  place  he  speaks  of  these  household  gods  being 
stained  and  defiled  by  the  blood  of  one  that  was  killed 
by  his  brother.  But  it  mast  likewise  be  observed 
that,  among  the  Latins,  the  word  Penates  not  only 
signifies  the  gods,  of  which  we  have  been  speaking, 
but  likewise  a  dwelling  house,  of  which  we  have  in- 
stances in  many  authors,  and  among  the  rest,  ia 
irVirgil,  **Cicero,  and  ff Fabius. 

•  Virg.  JEn.  1.  5. 

f  Dii  Patrii  Ssaj  wxrpuioi.     Macrob.  3.     Saturn.  14. 

t  Parvique  Penates.     Virg.  JEn.  8. 

&  Flammis  adolere  penates.     ^n.  1. 

fl  Sparsos  fraterna  ca^de  Penates.     JEn.  4. 

U  Nostris  succede  penatibus  hospes.     JEn.  8. 

**  Exterminare  aliquem  a  suis  Diis  Penatibus.    Pro  Sexto. 

tt  Liberos  pellere  dorao,  ac  prohibere  Penatibus.     Dec.  260 


238 

*T*im3eus,  and  from  him  Dlonyslus,  says  tl  A 
these  Penates  had  no  proper  shape  or  figure ;  but 
were  wooden  or  brazen  rods,  shaped  somewhat  hke 
trumpets.  But  it  is  also  thought  by  others,  that 
they  had  the  shape  of  young  men  with  spears,  which 
they  held  apart  from  another. 

The  Lares  were  children  born  from  JMercury  and 
the  Nymph  Lara ;  for  when,  by  her  prating,  she 
had  discovered  some  of  Jupiter's  intrigues,  he  was  so 
enraged  that  he  cut  out  her  tongue,  and  banished 
her  to  the  Stj'gian  lake :  Mercury,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  conduct  her  thither,  made  love  to  her. 
She  brought  forth  twins,  and  named  them  Lares. 

"  Fitque  gravis  Ceminosque  parit  qui  compita  servant, 
F.t  vigilant  nostra  semper  in  ajde  Lares.  Ovid.  Fast.  3 

Her  twins  the  Lares  called.     'Tis  by  their  care 
Our  houses,  roads,  and  streets  in  safety  are 

The}^  were  made  domestic  gods,  and  accordingly 
presided  over  houses,  streets,  and  ways.  On  this 
account  they  were  worshipped  in  the  roads  and  opeu 
streets,  called  compita  in  Latin,  whence  the  games 
celebrated  in  honour  of  them  were  called  Compi- 
talitii,  Compitalitia,  and  sometimes  Compitalia. 
When  these  sports  were  exercised,  the  images  of 
men  and  women,  made  of  wool,  were  hung  in  the 
streets  ;  and  so  many  balls  made  of  wool  as  there 
were  servants  in  the  family,  and  so  many  complete 
images  as  there  were  children.  The  meaning  of 
which  custom  was  this  :  These  feasts  were  dedicated 
to  the  Lares,  who  were  esteemed  infernal  gods  ;  the 
people  desiring  by  this,  that  these  gods  would  be 
contented  with  those  woollen  images,  and  spare  the 
persons  represented  by  them.  The  Roman  youths 
used  to  wear  a  golden  ornament,  called  bulla^  about 
their  necks ;  it  was  made  in  the  shape  of  a  heart, 
*  Lib.  1. 


239 

and  hollow  within  :  tljis  they  wore  till  they  were 
fourteen  years  of  age,  then  they  put  it  off,  and  hang- 
ing it  up,  consecrated  it  to  the  Lares  ;  as  we  learn 
from  Persius. 

"  Bullaque  succinctis  Laribus  donata  pependit." 

When  fourteen  years  are  past,  the  Bulla's  laid 
Aside,  an  olfering  to  the  Lares  made. 

These  Lares  sometimes  were  clothed  in  the  skin 
of  dogs,  and  sometimes  fashioned  in  the  shape  of 
dogs;  whence  that  creature  was  consecrated  to  them. 

The  place  in  which  the  Lares  were  worshipped 
was  called  Lararium  ;  and  in  the  sacrifices  offered 
to  them,  the  first  fruits  of  the  year,  wine  and  in- 
cense, were  brought  to  their  altars,  and  their  images 
adorned  with  chaplets  and  garlands.  *The  begin- 
ning of  which  wo5"«hip  came  hence  :  that  anciently 
the  dead,  fwho  were  buried  at  home,  were  wor- 
shipped as  go'^j,  and  called  Lares.  And  besides, 
we  find  in  fPliny,  that  they  sacrificed,  with  wine 
and  incense,  to  the  images  o[  the  emperors  while 
tliey  yet  lived. 

QUEsrioys  for  examination. 

How  are  the  inferior  gods  divided? 

What  is  said  of  the  Penates  ? 

Into  how  many  orders  were  they  divided,  and  what  was  their 
office  ? 

What  signification  is  given  to  the  word  "  Penates"  by  the 
Latins  ? 

What  is  related  of  the  Penates  by  Timaeus  and  Dionysius  ? 

Who  were  the  Lares  ? 

Over  what  did  they  preside  ? 

What  games  were  celebrated  in  honour  of  them,  and  how 
were  they  exercised  ? 

What  customs  had  the  Romans  with  respect  to  the  Larea? 

Where  were  the  Lares  worshipped  ? 

•  Juv.  Sat.  9,  12. 
f  Arnob.  5.  ex.  Var 
X  Epist.  1.  10. 


240 
CHAPTER  II. 


THE  GENII.    THEIR  NAMES,    IMAGES,  SACRIFICES, 
AND  OFFICES. 

Although  the  Genii  and  the  Lares  sometimes 
mean  the  same  deities,  yet  by  Genius  is  commonly 
meant  that  spirit  of  nature  which  produces  all  things, 
from  which  ^generative  power  it  has  its  name.  The 
birth-day  had  the  name  f"  genial"  from  him*  which 
name  was  likewise  given  to  all  days,  wherein  mirth, 
pleasure,  and  joys  did  abound.  And  on  the  same 
account  those  who  live  merril}-,  who  deny  themselves 
nothing  that  makes  for  their  ease  and  pleasure,  or 
that  is  grateful  to  their  appetite,  who  entirely  follow 
the  dictates  of  their  sensual  desires,  are  said  to  live 
a  genial  life,  or  to  indulge  their  genius. 

The  Greeks  called  these  Genii  "  daemons  ;"  as 
it  is  thought,  from  the  Jterror  and  dread  they  create 
in  those  to  whom  they  appear  ;  or,  as  it  is  more 
probable,  §from  the  prudent  and  wise  answers  which 
they  gave  when  they  were  consulted  as  oracles. 
Hence  some  think,  that  illustrious  men,  whose  ac- 
tions in  this  life  gain  them  universal  praise  and  ap- 
plause, do  after  their  deaths  become  daemons ;  by 
which  da3mons  is  to  be  understood,  as  Plutarch 
says,  beings  of  a  middle  kind,  of  a  greater  dignity 
than  man,  but  of  a  nature  inferior  to  the  gods. 

The  images  of  the  Genii  (according  to  Persius 
and  his  commentators)  resembled  for  the  most  part 

*  A  gignendo  seu  genendo,  nam  geno  pro  gigno  olim  diceba- 
tur.     Aug.  de  Civ.  Dei.  7.     Cic.  de  Orat.  2.  et  de  Invent.  2. 

t  Censorin.  de  Dei.  Nat.  3. 

t  DEemoncs  dicuntur  a.  iaifiovau  exterreo  airt  pavefacio.  Eu- 
sebius. 

§  Vel  quasi  laiftom  id  est,  periti  rerumque  proscii  nam  res- 
ponsa  dabant  consulentibus.     Isidor.  3.  Etymol. 


241 

the  form  of  a  serpent.  Sometimes  also  they  were 
described  like  a  boy,  a  girl,  or  an  old  man  ,•  and 
crowned  with  the  leaves  of  the  plane,  which  was  a 
tree  sacred  to  them. 

Wine  and  flowers  were  offered  up  in  the  sacrifices 
to  the  Genii,  and  that,  especially  by  the  people  on 
their  birth-days,  as  we  may  learn  from.  Persius  and 
Horace : 

"  Funde  raerum  Genio."     Pers. 
To  Genius  consecrate  a  cheerful  glass 
-"  piabant 


Floribus  et  vino  Genium  memcrem  brsevis  aevi, 
Cum  sociis  operuni  e*  pueris  conjuge  fida."     Epist.  2. 

Their  wives,  their  neighbours,  and  their  prattling  boys, 
Were  call'd  ;  all  tasted  of  their  sportive  joys  : 
They  drank,  they  danc'd,  they  sLing,  made  wanton  sport, 
Enjoy'd  themselves,  for  life  they  knew  was  short. 

To  these  flowers  and  wine  they  added  *ineense, 
parched  bread,  and  corn  strewed  with  salt.  fSome-* 
times  also  a  swine  was  sacrificed  ;  though  Censorinus 
writes,  that  it  was  not  usual  to  sacrifice  to  the  Genii 
with  the  blood  and  slaughter  of  any  thing,  since  we 
ought  not  to  take  life  from  other  creatures  on  that 
day  on  which  we  received  it. 

The  Genii  were  appointed  the  continual  guar- 
dians, overseers,  and  safe  keepers  of  the  men  (as 
the  women's  guardians  and  protectors  were  called 
Junones)  from  their  cradles  to  their  graves.  They 
likewise  carried  the  prayers  of  men  to  the  gods,  and 
interceded  for  them.  Whence  some  call  them  Prae- 
stites,  or  chief  governors,  because  they  are  set  over 
the  management  of  all  things. 

To  every  person   Jwere  assigned  two   Genii,  a 

•  Plut.  in  Aul. 

t  Pal»ph.  Eel.  5.  Hor.  Carm.  3. 
i  Plut  de  Iside  et  Osir. 
21 


242 

bonus  Genius,  and  a  mnlus  Genius :  "Horace  calls 
tbeni  a  white  and  a  black  one.  We  are  told  by 
f  Valerius  Maxinuis,  that  when  Cassius  lied  to  Athens, 
alter  Anthony  was  beaten  at  Actiuni,  tliere  appeared 
to  l)hn  a  man  of  larj^e  statme,  of  a  bhick  swarthy 
complexion,  with  long  hair,  and  grisly  beard.  Cas- 
sius asked  him  who  he  was  ?  and  the  apparition 
answered,  "  1  am  your  evil  Genius."  Virgil  li-. 
thought,  by  his  tcommentaioi-,  Servius,  to  Uiean 
these  Lwo  Genii,  by  the  word  manes.  0(  these  two 
Genii,  the  good  one,  which  is  given  to  every  one  at 
his  birth,  constant]}'  incites  him  to  the  practice  of 
virtue  and  goodness ;  whereas  the  bad  one  prompts 
him  to  all  manner  of  vice  and  wickedness. 

Nor  were  they  assigned  to  men  only ;  ibr  several 
countries  had  their  Genii,  who  tlierefore  ncrc  called 
<5,"  the  dolties  ot*  the  place  :"  Nay,  || Genii  were  al- 
lotted to  all  liouses,  and  doors,  and  stables,  and 
hearths:  and  because  the  hearths  were  usually  co- 
vered with  slates,  tlierefore  the  god  of  tlie  hearths 
was  called  Lateranus. 

qUESTIOA'S  FOR  EX.^MLY.^TIOX. 

Who  were  the  Genii,  and  from  Avhat  is  the  term  derived? 

Why  were  they  called  DaMnuns? 

How  are  t'.iey  reprp.=cnted  ? 

What  were  tlie  faciiiiccs  ottered  to  the  Genii? 

To  whom  were  tiie  Genii  appointed  guardians? 

How  many  Genii  were  appointed  to  each  person,  and  what 
were  (hey  r 

W'hsU  was  the  office  of  each  ? 

V/ere  Genii  appointed  to  countries  and  places,  as  well  as  pcr- 
fOns  ? 

What  Avas  the  god  of  the  hearths  called? 

•  Genium  album  et  nigrum  Epist.  2. 

t  Interrogatus  (juisipiam   essel  respondit  se  esse  KUKt^ecifUfm, 
c.  7. 

•  Quisquc  SUDS  patimur  manes.     Virg.  JEn.  7.  Vide  Servium 

I  i^umen  loci.  VIrg.  .^n.  7. 

fl  Irud.  in  Symm.  Laleroulis  extrui  foci  solebant.     Lil.  Gyr 
yut.  1. 


OJ7. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  NUiTIAL  GODS  AND  GODDESSES,  DEITIES  PRE- 
SIDING  OVER  WO.MEN  IN  LABOUR,  kc. 

Five  deities  were  so  nbsoliitely  necessary  to  all 
marriages,  that  none  coult!  lawfully  be  solemnized 
without  them.  They  were  Jupiter  perfectus  or  adul- 
ius,  Juna  pcrfecta  or  aUtdta,  Venus,  Suada,  and 
Diana  ;  beside  these,  several  inferior  gods  and  god- 
desses were  worshipped  at  all  marriages. 

Jngatinns  joined  the  man  and  the  woman  together 
in  *the  yoke  of  matrimony. 

DomJducus  fguided  tlie  bride  into  the  bride- 
groom's house. 

Domitius  was  woishipped,  that  the  bride  might  be 
Jkept  at  home,  to  look  after  the  alfairs  of  the  family. 

Manturjia  was  worshi])ped,  that  the  wife  might 
never  leave  lier  husband,  but  in  all  conditions  of  life 
^abide  vvitli  him. 

Then  the  goddess  V^irginensis,  and  also  the  god- 
dess Cinxia  Jiujo,  jjwere  invoked. 

Prinpus,  or  IMutnuis,  was  also  reckoned  one  of  the 
nuptial  gods,  because  in  his  lap  the  bride  was  com- 
manded to  sit. 

irV'iripiaca  reconciles  husbands  to  their  wives.  A 
tem[)le  at  Home  was  dedicated  to  her,  whither  the 
married  couple  usually  repaired  when  any  quarrel 
arose  between  them ;  and  there,  opening  their  minds 
fieely  to  each  other,  without  j)assion,  tliey  laid  aside 
all  anger,  and  relurned  home  together  friendly. 

*  A  jiiso  matrimonii  dictiis.     Aug.  de  Civ.  Doi.  4. 

i  Qiioil  spotisarii  in  spoiisi  dotnuin  diiceret.     Idem.  ibid. 

{   Ut  ppoiis.Tin  domi  teiierct. 

6  I'l  cum  uiarito  semper  maneret. 

fl   Aii<;i:st.  ihid. 

%  A  j)!acaiido  vi:o.     Val,  Max.  1.  2.  r.  I. 


244 

Pilumnus,  one  of  the  gods  of  children,  was  so 
called  from  the  ^pestle  which  the  ancients  pounded 
their  corn  with,  before  they  made  tiieir  bread  5  or, 
■fbecause  he  keeps  ofl'  those  misfortmies  which  attend 
children. 

Intercidona  was  the  goddess  who  first  taught  the 
art  jof  cutting  wood  with  a  hatchet  to  make  fires. 

Deverra  was  worshipped  as  a  goddess,  because 
she  invented  brooms,  by  which  all  things  are  brushed 
clean,  and  those  distempers  prevented  that  proceed 
from  uncleanliness. 

The  Sylvan  gods,  who  were  always  hurtful  to 
pregnant  women,  were  driven  away  by  those  dei- 
ties, and  the  mischiefs  they  intended  were  prevented. 
For,  as  neither  the  trees,  §says  St.  Augustine,  are 
cut  down  without  an  axe,  nor  bread  made  without 
a  pestle,  nor  things  preserved  clean  without  a  brush  ; 
so,  since  these  instruments  are  thought  signs  of  good 
housewifery,  it  was  supposed  that  these  wild  unclean 
deities  would  never  enter  into  the  chamber  of  a 
pregnant  woman. 

Juno  Lucina,  the  friend  of  women  in  labour,  is 
represented  with  one  hand  empty,  and  ready,  as  it 
were,  to  receive  the  new-born  babe  ;  the  other  hand 
holding  a  Hghted  torch,  by  which  that  light  of  life 
was  signified,  which  all  enjoy  as  soon  as  they  are 
born. 

qUESTIOKS  FOR  EXAMmATION. 

Who  were  the  deities  necessary  in  all  marriages  ? 

What  was  the  business  of  Jugatinus,  Domiducus,  and  Domi- 
tius  ? 

Why  were  Maturna,  Virginensis,  and  Priapus,  reckoned  nup 
tial  gods  ? 

What  was  the  business  of  Viriplaca? 

•  A  pile. 

t  Qood  mala  ab  infantibus  pellit.     Servias. 

I  Ab  intercisione  securis. 

§  De  Civ.  Dei.  7, 


\ 


245 

Who  was  Pilumnus  ? 

Who  was  Intercidona  ? 

Why  was  Deverra  worshipped  as  a  goddess? 
What  gods  were  driven  away  by  these  deities  ;  and  what  are 
the  observations  of  St.  Augustine  ? 
How  is  Juno  Lucina  represented  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    DEITIES  PRESIDING    OVER   INFANTS    AT    THE 
TIME  OF  THEIR  BIRTH  AND  AFTERWARDS. 

The  chief  of  these  are  as  follows  : 

Janus,  who  opened  *the  door  of  life  to  them. 

Opis,  who  j-assisted  them  when  they  came  into 
the  world. 

Nascio,  or  Natio,  a  goddess  so  called  from  a  Latin 
word  signifying  to  be  born. 

Cmiia,  who  attends  the  cradle,  and  watches  the 
infants  while  they  lie  and  sleep. 

Levana,  from  lifting  them  up  from  the  ground, 
for  when  a  child  was  born,  the  midwife  constantly 
laid  the  child  on  the  ground,  and  the  father,  or  in 
his  absence,  somebody  appointed  by  him,  lifted  it 
from  the  ground  ;  and  hence  tollere  liheros  signifies 
"  to  educate  children." 

Carna,  or  Carnea,  {who  keeps  the  inward  parts 
safe.  To  this  goddess  they  sacrificed  upon  the 
calends  of  June,  bacon,  and  cakes  made  of  beans. 
Whence  those  calends  were  called  Fabarige. 

The  goddess  Nundina  was  so  called  from  the  ninth 
day  of  the  child's  age,  which  was  the  day  of  the  pu- 
rification :  in  which  the  name  was  given  it,  if  it  was 


•  Qui  aperiret  vitaj  januara. 
t  Quae  opem  ferret. 

X  A  carne.     Vide  Macrob.  Saturn.  1.  L 
21* 


2AC) 

a  boy;  if  It  was  a  girl,  tliis  ceremony  was  performed 
on  the  eigiitli  iUyy. 

Our  several  attions  are  sii])p()se(l  to  be  under  the 
protection  of  (Users  gods. 

Juvenuis,  or  Jiivenias,  protects  us  in  the  beginning 
of  our  youth,  *when  ue  have  thrown  oil'  tlie  child's 
coat. 

Horto  is  the  goddess  fwho  exhorts  us  to  under- 
take noble  enterprises.  Her  teni})le  at  Rome  stood 
always  open  :  and  some  call  her  Hora. 

Quies  had  her  temple  without  the  city:  and  Jwas 
supposed  to  be  the  donor  of  peace  and  quietness. 

The  goddess  iMeditrina  has  her  name  from  §heal- 
ing ;  and  iier  sacrifices  were  called  ]\Ieditrinalia,  in 
wliich  tliey  diank  new  and  old  wine,  instead  of 
pliysic. 

1'he  goddess  Vitula  is  called  from  leapiiigfor  joy : 
she  is  the  "  goildess  of  mirth,"  which  mitigates  the 
toils  of  life. 

Sentia  was  worshipiped,  th.at  children  might  im- 
bibf  at  first  ju>t  and  lionourabie  ||sentiments. 

Angerona  was  the  goddess  that  removed  the 
Hanguish  of  the  mind. 

Siata,  or  Statua  Mater,  was  worshipped  in  the 
Forum,  that  it  should  not  be  bunU,  or  sulier  damage 
from  the  irequent  iires,  wliich  happened  there  in  the 
night. 

The  goddess  Laverna  was  the  protectress  of 
tlfieves,  who,  from  her,  were  named  Laverniones : 
they  worshij)ped  her,  that  th.eir  designs  ard  intrigues 
might  be  successi'ul  ;  her  im;ige  was  a  iiead  without 
a  body. 


*   Ans;ii<t.  A.  .:.  11, 

i   IMiii.  Qiii.sl.  Rom.  14. 

\    ^iiijiis'.  A.  (;.  It). 

&    A  incdciKJo.     \'ar.  v\  I'rstii«. 

i;    A  sn)i-M.)i.'o.     Frsj.  Jul.  Md.lest, 

^    L)l  |!t.'llciot  angurc's  aiiir.ii. 


217 

Voliinii'.ii>  aiu!  Volimma  wtri'  so  iianird,  because, 
tliroiiuli  llirir  incwiis,  men  ■^'ucti'  \\il!iii!^  to  follow 
lhinu:s  thai  arc  j^'oocl. 

Aiiis  liociii'ms  was  worsliipped  on  liiis  occasion: 
A  c'onjnion  soldier  rcporicd,  dial  lii  llu'  i}ii4,lit  he 
lieard  a  Noicc  say,  "  {\\v  Gaids  arc  couiiiii:."  No- 
body mir.di'd  wliat  lie  said,  beca.ise  lie  was  a  poor 
fellow.  Alter  the  Gallic  war,  Cainilliis  advised  the 
Romans  to  expiate  their  ollence  in  nei^ieclini;  this 
nocturnal  Noice,  which  Torewarned  iheni  of  i!ie(iul- 
lic  wai",  and  the  enstfnju:  destruction  ;  nj)oi>  u  hicli 
a  tenij)le  was  (L'dicated  in  Via  Nova  to  Ains  Locii- 
lius. 

A  j)articnlar  ^od  was  assii;i)ed  and  ascribed  to 
every  member  of  the  body  of  ma.n. 

The  head  was  sacred  to  Jupiter,  llie  breast  to  Xep- 
time,  tl:e  w  aist  to  !\birs ;  the  forelieavd  to  (ienius,  the 
eyebrows  to  Jnno,  tlie  eyes  to  (Jnp:;l,  the  ears  lo 
IMemotia,  the  ri,u,ht  hand  to  Fides,  the  bac!;  and  the 
Iiinder  paits  to  Phito,  the  reins  to  V'einis,  the  feel  to 
Mercury,  the  kiiees  to  Misericordia,  the  ancles  and 
soles  of  liie  feet  to  Thetis,  and  the  fiiii;ers  to  Mi- 
ner\a. 

The  aslroloirers  assiiz;n  the  ;)ai-ts  of  ihe  body  lo 
tlie  celestial  c(inslelIations,  in  another  juanner. 

The  chief  of  the  funeral  deities  is  i/:bilii!a,  whom 
some  account  to  be  the  same  as  W-juis  ;  but  oi.ijers 
think  that  she  was  Proserpine.  In  her  temple  all 
things  necessary  for  fur.erals  were  sold  or  lei.  liibi- 
tina  so:netimes  signifies  the  grave,  and  Libilinarii, 
those  JJien  who  were  en^ployed  in  bm-ying  the  dead. 
Porta  Libitina,  at  Rome,  was  that  gale  ilnoiigh 
which  the  dead  bodies  were  carried  lo  be  burnt: 
and  RaLones  Libitina*,  in  Stietoifpi'^,  signifies  ihose 
accouiits  whu-h  we  call  "  the  b.lls  of  m<n-laliiv,"  or 
"the  weekly  bills." 

•  A  vuitriuio,  ijiKid  fjiis  consllio  l»tii:a  H'licnt, 


248 

qUESTJOjYS  FOR  EXAMIKATIOJ^. 

Who  were  Janus,  Opis,  Isascio,  and  Cunia  ? 
What  was  the  office  of  Levana? 

What  was  the  business  of  Carna,  and  what  were  the  sacrificet 
offered  to  her  ? 

Who  was  the  goddess  Nundina,  and  why  was  she  so  called  ? 

What  is  the  oface  of  Juventus  ? 

What  are  the  duties  of  Horta  and  Quies  ? 

Who  was  Vitula  ? 

Who  were  Sentia  and  Angerona  ? 

Why  were  Stata  and  Laverna  worshipped  ? 

From  what  did  Volumnus  and  Volumna  derive  their  namesf 

What  is  said  of  Aius  Locutius  ? 

What  parts  of  the  body  were  sacred  to  the  gods  ? 

Who  was  the  chief  of  the  funeral  deities  ? 


V'       OF  THE  ^ 


ItgXli;^!.:!^ 


PART  VI. 


DU  INDIGETES  AND  ADSCRIPTITII ; 


THE  SEMI-DEI  AND  HEROES, 


CHAPTER  I. 

HERCULES.    HIS  NAMES  AND  LABOURS. 

In  the  last  division  of  the  Fabulous  Pantheon,  are 
described  the  images  of  the  Indigetes,  or  Semi-Dei, 
and  the  Heroes. 

The  Semi-Dei,  Yi/^t&eoi  [Hemitheoi^  or  Demi- 
Gods,  were  those  who  had  human  bodies,  sacred 
minds,  and  celestial  souls  :  they  were  born  hi  this 
world  for  the  good  and  safety  of  mankind.  Labeo, 
in  St.  Augustine,  distinguishes  them  from  the  Heroes. 
He  thinks  that  Heros  was  one  of  Juno's  sons,  and 
that  the  name  Heros  is  derived  from  Wpu,  [Jlera^ 
Juno's  name  in  the  Greek  language.  Odiers  think 
that  the  word  comes  from  epct.  [era,]  "  the  earth  ;" 
because  men  owe  their  original  to  it.  Others  again 
think  it  comes  from  spaq  [e?'05,]  "  love  ;"  for  heroes 
are  the  most  illustrious  product  of  love,  and  are 
themselves,  as  Hierocles  observes,  full  of  love.  But 
others  think  that  this  name  is  derived  from  spea  [ereo^ 
"  to  plead,"  and  is  given  them  because  heroes  are 
very  elegant,  and  most  powerful,  and  skilful  in  rhe- 
toric.    Or,  lastly,  it  is  thought  that  the  word  conies 


250 
from  ecptrt;  [r/re^?.]  "  virtue  ;"  for  heroes  are  endued 
witli  many  virtues.     But  let  us  speak  particularly 
concerning  some  of  these  heroes,  ot'whoni  the  most 
famous  v»  as  Hercules. 

There  were  many  heroes  called  Hercules,  but  (as 
*  Cicero  says)  llie  famous  actions  of  them  all  are 
ascribed  to  iiim  who  was  the  son  of  J:;piter,  by  Alc- 
mena,  the  wife  of  Amjdiytrio,  king  of  Thebes. 

When  Aniphytrio  was  absent,  Jupiter  put  on  his 
shape  and  dress,  and  came  to  Alcmena  ;  who,  think- 
ing that  her  husband  was  returned,  entertained  the 
deceitful  god,  and  had  by  him  a  son,  whose  limbs 
were  extraordinary  and  wonderOdiy  large,  his  con- 
stitution robust,  a)id  his  body  full  of  vigor.  Bcibre 
this,  Alcmoia  had  conceived  a  son  by  her  husband. 
This  son  and  Hercules  were  twins;  his  name  was 
Iphiclus  ;  he  was  wonderfully  swift  in  running  ; 

"  Nam  super  oxlremassegetum  ciirrebat  arislas, 
Ncc  siccos  fructus  Icedcbat  pondeie  plantar." 

Orph.  in  Hymn, 

lie  over  sli?ndin<^  corn  would  run,  and  ne'er 
In  liis  swift  motion  bruise  the  tender  ear. 

When  Juno  had  discovered  the  conduct  of  Jupi- 
ter, she  began  to  hale  Hercules  so  violently,  that 
she  endeavoured  to  ruin  him.  First,  she  obtained 
an  edict  from  Jupiter,  which  she  endeavoured  to  turn 
to  his  utter  destruction ;  for  the  wife  of  Sthenelus, 
king  of  Mycena?,  was  pregnant  with  Euristheus,  at 
ilie  same  time  whei:i  Alcmena  was  with  Hercules. 
Jupiter  ordained,  that  whichever  of  the  two  children 
was  born  first,  he  should  be  superior  to  the  other : 
Juno  accelerated  Euristheus'  birdi,  so  that  he  was 
born  after  seven  months,  and  came  into  the  world 
before  Hercules.  Again,  she  sent  two  vipers  to  de- 
j^troy  him  when  he  lay  crying  in  the  cradle :  but  it 

•  De  Nat.  Deor.  2. 


251 

was  in  vain  ;  for  the  valiant  infant  griped  tlicm  in 
his  liands  till  they  perished  by  his  p:rasp,  as  we  are 
told  by  Ovid,  in  his  epistles.  At  length,  by  the 
mediation  of  Pallas,  Jnno  was  reconciled  to  the  no- 
ble youth,  and  suckled  him,  but  he  drew  the  milk 
with  suck  violence,  that  she  violently  put  him  away, 
and  some  ol'  her  milk  was  spilt;  (allin-T  upon  the  sky, 
it  made  the  Milkyway,  which  is  in  Greek  Votx-^l't^ 
[Galaxta.']  Some  of  it  passed  throng!)  tiie  clouds, 
and  fell  on  the  earth  ;  and  where  it  fell  lilies  sj)rang 
up  :  hence  some  call  these  the  "roses  of  Juno." 

He  had  two  proper  names,  Hercules  and  Alcides; 
but  his  sirnames  are  innumerable.  His  parents  call- 
ed him  *  Alcides,  from  his  extraordinary  strength, 
in  uhich  he  greatly  excelled  ail  mankind.  He  was 
afterward  called  Hercules,  y  from  the  glory  which 
Juno  caused  him  :  for  when  she  exposed  him  to  the 
greatest  dangers,  she  rendered  him  most  illustrious, 
and  by  enjoining  him  so  many  labors,  she  only  ex- 
ercised his  patience  and  courage. 

Hercules  v,as  subjected  to  Euristhcus.  not  only  by 
the  edict  of  Jupiter  and  unkindness  of  Juno,  but  also 
because  the  oracle  of  Apollo  at  Delphi  advised  and 
persuaded  him  to  subnet  himself,  and  obey  Euris- 
thcus' commands  ;  and  especially,  to  undeigo.  will- 
ingly, the  twelve  labors  which  his  master  should 
lay  upon  him.  Hercules  obeyed  the  Fates,  and 
served  Er.risllieus  twelve  years  :  he  performed  the 
most  dangerous  and  diHicu't  commands  with  a  suit- 
able couinge  and  success.  Some  say,  that  Hercu- 
les served  him  voluntarily,  and  performed  these 
difficult  tasks,  to  show  how  great  love  he  bore  Eu- 
risthcus. 

Tliou^li  Hercules  performed  an  infinite  number 
of  great  ;md  memorable  actions,  twelve  are  (.'spe- 
cially celebrated  :  and   those   twelve  are  comprised 

•  Ai)  '^^Xy.r,  i-()l)iir. 

<  Jui.o  Grace  dicilur  n/ic,  cl  xXs«;  gloria,  undc  nomeu  Hercules. 


252 

m    as    many   Latin   verses,    translated    out  of  the 
Greek : 

"Prima  Clconei tolorata  aerumna  leonis. 
Proxima  Lerna^am  ferro  et  face  contudit  hydram. 
Mox  Erymantheum  vis  terlia  pcrculil  aprum. 
iEripidis  quarto  tulit  aurea  cornua  cervi. 
Stymphalidas  pepulit  volucres  discriinine  quinto. 
Threiciam  sexto  spoliavit  Amazonabaltheo. 
Septiraa  in  Augean  stabulis  impensa  laboris. 
Octava  expulso  numeratur  adoreatauro 
In  Diomedis  victor  jam  nona  quadrigis. 
Geryone  extincto  decimam  dat  Iberia  palmam. 
Undecimum  maK  Hesperidum  distracla  triumphum. 
Cerberus  extremi  suprema  est  meta  laboris." 

The  Cleonian  lion  first  he  kills; 

With  fire  and  sword  then  Lerna's  pest  he  quells; 
Of  the  wild  boar  he  clears  th'  Er^'manthean  fields 
The  brass-foot  stag  with  golden  antlers  yields: 
He  Styrapha  clears  of  man-devouring  birds; 
And  next  the  bouncing  Amazon  ungirds: 
The  stables  of  king  Augeas  he  cleans; 
The  Cretan  bull  he  vanquishes  and  chains: 
Diomedes'  horses  him  their  conqu'ror  own  ; 
Then  he  brings  low  three-headed  Geryon  : 
Hesperian  apples  next  his  name  sustains; 
And  his  last  labour  Cerberus  enchains. 

The  particular  account  of  these  twelve  is  this  : 
The  first  labour  of  Hercules  was,  that  he  tore  in 
pieces,  with  his  nails,  the  lion  in  the  woods  of  Ne- 
maea,  which,  some  say,  fell  from  the  orb  of  the  moon, 
and  was  invulnerable  by  any  weapon.  This  place 
was  also  named  Cleone,  from  which  the  lion  was 
also  called  Cleoneus.  He  afterwards  skinned  the 
lion,  and  with  the  skin  made  himself  a  shield  and  a 
breast-plate. 

2.  There  was  a  hydra,  a  serpent  in  the  lake 
Lerna,  in  the  field  of  Argos,  that  had  seven  heads; 
some  say  nine,  others  fift}'.  When  any  of  these 
heads  were  cut  off,  another  presently  sprang  up  in 
the  place  of  it :  unless  the  blood  which  issued  from 
the  wound  was  stopped. 


253 

lolaus,  the  son  of  Iphiclus,  procured  for  him  light- 
ed brands  from  the  neighbouring  wood,  and  with 
tliem  Hercules  stanched  the  blood  issuing  from  the 
wounds  he  made.  This  seasonable  assistance  was 
not  forgotten  ;  for  when  lolaus  was  grown  to  decre- 
pid  age,  Hercules,  by  his  prayers,  restored  him  to 
his  youth  again.     Ovid.  Met.  9. 

3.  He  bound  the  wild  boar,  whose  fierceness  and 
bigness  were  equally  admirable,  in  the  mountain 
Erymanthus  of  Arcadia  ;  and  afterwards  brought  it 
to  Euristheus. 

4.  He  was  ordered  to  bring  to  Islycendd  a  hind, 
whose  feet  were  brass,  and  horns  gold.  Nobody 
dared  to  wound  her,  because  she  was  consecrated  to 
Diana,  nor  could  any  body  outrun  her :  yet  Her- 
cules hunted  her  a  year,  on  foot,  caught  her,  and 
brought  her  away  on  his  shoulders. 

5.  He  partly  killed  and  partly  drove  away  the 
birds  called  Stymphalides,  from  lake  Stymphalus, 
which  used  to  feed  upon  man's  flesh. 

6.  He  defeated  the  army  of  the  Amazons,  and 
took  from  Hyppolite,  their  queen,  the  finest  belt  in 
the  world. 

1;  He  in  one  day  cleansed  the  stable  of  Augeas, 
by  turning  the  course  of  a  river  into  it.  This  sta- 
ble had  never  been  cleansed,  although  three  thou- 
sand oxen  stabled  in  it  thirt}^  years.  Whence,  when 
we  would  express  a  work  of  immense  labour  and  toil, 
in  proverbial  speech,  we  call  it  '*  cleansing  the  Au- 
gean stable." 

8.  He  tamed  a  great  bull,  that  did  much  mischief 
in  the  island  of  Crete,  and  brought  him  bound  to 
Euristheus. 

9.  He  overcame  Diomedes,  the  most  cruel  tyrant 
of  Thrace,  who  fed  his  horses  with  the  flesh  of  his 
guests.  Hercules  bound  him,  and  threw  him  to  be 
eaten  by  those  horses  to  which  the  tyrant  had  ex- 
posed others* 

^  22 


254 

10.  He  ovei  came  in  war  Geryon,  king  of  Spain, 
who  had  three  bodies,  and  took  his  bay  oxen  that 
ate  men's  (icsh,  and  brought  them  into  Italy,  when 
he  had  killed  the  dragon  with  seven  heads,  and  the 
two-headed  dog  which  guarded  him. 

11.  He  killed  the  dragon  that  watched,  and  then 
carried  away  the  golden  apples  in  the  gardens  of  the 
Hesperides ;  whence  perhaps  he  is  called  ^Melius, 
and  apples  were  offered  up  in  his  sacrifices.  In 
Ba*otia,  when  no  bull  (or  sheep)  could  be  procured 
at  the  time  of  sacrifice,  they  took  an  apple,  and 
stuck  into  it  four  straws,  which  represented  four 
legs,  and  two  more  for  horns,  with  another  for  a 
tail,  and  offered  Hercules  this  apple  instead  of  a 
victim. 

12.  Lastly,  he  was  commanded  by  Euristheus  to 
go  down  into  hell,  and  bring  away  thence  the  dog 
Cerberus.  This  he  performed  without  delay,  bound 
the  tliree-headed  monster  in  a  triple  chain,  and  by 
force  brought  him  up  to  the  earth.  When  Cerebus 
saw  the  light,  he  vomited,  and  thence  the  poisonous 
herb  wolf's-bane,  Aconitum,  sprang.  These  are  the 
twelve  labours  of  Hercules. 

13.  He  vanquished  the  cruel  and  enormous  giant 
Ant?eus,  the  son  of  the  earth,  who  was  above  sixty- 
four  cubits  high,  and  who  forced  strangers  to  wrestle 
with  him.  Hercules  threw  this  giant  down  thrice, 
and  perceiving  that  he  recovered  new  strength  as 
oft  as  he  touched  the  earth,  he  lifted  him  in  his  arms 
from  the  ground,  and  then  despatched  him. 

14.  Busiris,  the  tyrant,  used  to  sacrifice  all  the 
strangers  that  he  caught  to  his  father  Neptune,  till 
Hercules  sacrificed  both  him  and  his  son  upon  the 
same  altar. 

15.  He  killed  the  giants  Albion  and  Bergeon, 
who  intended  to  stop  his  journey  :  and  when  in  the 

*M»iX«y  Grsece  significat  malum  vel  pomum. 


255 

fight  his  arrows  were  consumed,  so  that  he  wanted 
arms,  he  prayed  to  Jupiter,  and  obtained  from  him 
a  shower  of  stones,  with  which  he  defeated  and  put 
to  flight  his  adversaries.  This,  they  say,  happened 
in  that  part  of  France,  ancientl}'  called  Gcdlia  Nar- 
bonensis ;  which  place  is  called  the  Stony  Plain, 
Campus  Lapideus. 

16.  When  Atlas  was  weary  of  his  burden,  Her- 
cules took  the  heavens  upon  his  shoulders.  He 
overcame  the  robber  Cacus,  who  spit  fire,  and 
strangled  him.  He  shot  the  eagle  that  devoured 
the  liver  of  Prometheus,  as  he  lay  chained  to  the 
rock.  And  he  slew  Theodamus,  the  father  of  Hy- 
las,  because  he  denied  him  victuals  ;  but  he  took 
care  of  Hylas,  and  was  kind  to  him. 

17.  He  delivered  ^Hesione,  daughter  of  Lao- 
medon,  king  of  Troy,  from  the  whale  in  this  manner; 
he  raised,  on  a  sudden,  a  bank  in  the  place  where 
Hesione  was  to  be  devoured,  and  stood  armed  be- 
fore it ;  and  when  the  whale  came  seeking  his  prey, 
Hercules  leaped  into  his  mouth,  slided  down  his 
throat,  destroyed  him  and  came  away  safe.  Lao- 
medon,  after  this,  broke  his  word,  and  refused  to 
give  Hercules  the  reward  he  promised  ;  therefore 
he  took  it  by  force,  and  pillaged  the  city  of  Troy  ; 
giving  to  Telamon,  who  first  mounted  the  wall,  the 
lady  Hesione,  as  a  part  of  the  booty. 

18.  In  fighting  for  Deianira,  Hercules  overcame 
Achelous,  the  son  of  Oceanus  and  Terra,  though 
Achelous  first  turned  himself  into  a  serpent,  then 
into  a  bull.  By  plucking  one  of  his  horns  of!',  he 
obliged  him  to  yield ;  but  Achelous  purcliased  his 
horn  again ;  giving  Amaltha:a's  horn  in  its  stead. 
The  meaning  of  which  is  this  :  Achelous  is  a  river 
of  Greece,  whose  course  winds  like  a  serpent ;  its 
stream  is  so  rapid,  that  it  makes  furrows  where  it 

•  Ovid  Met.  11. 


256 

flows,  and  a  noise  like  the  roaring  of  a  bull :  and 
indeed  it  is  common  among  the  poets  to  compare  a 
river  to  a  bull.  This  river  divided  itself  into  two 
streams,  but  Hercules  forced  it  into  one  channel ; 
that  is,  he  broke  off  one  of  the  horns  or  streams. 
I'he  lands  thus  drained  became  fertile  ;  so  that  Her- 
cules is  said  to  have  received  the  horn  of  plenty. 

19.  Deianira  was  daughter  of  (Eneus,  king  of 
Qi]tolia.  Hercules  carried  her  to  be  married,  and 
in  their  way  they  were  stopped  by  a  river :  but  the 
centaur  Nessus  offered  to  carr}^  Deianira  over  upon 
his  back.  Nessus,  when  she  was  over,  insulted  her  5 
which  Hercules  observing,  while  he  swam,  shot  him 
with  an  arrow.  When  Nessus  was  dying,  he  gave 
Deianira  his  bloody  coat,  and  told  her,  if  a  husband 
wore  that  coat,  he  would  never  follow  unlawful  pur- 
suits. The  credulous  lady  soon  after  experienced 
the  virtue  of  it,  far  otherwise  than  she  expected. 
For  Hercvdes,  who  had  surmounted  so  many  and  so 
great  labours,  was  at  length  overcome  by  the  charms 
of  Omphale,  queen  of  Lydia,  and,  to  gratify  her, 
changed  his  club  into  a  distaff,  and  his  arrows  into 
a  spindle.  His  love  also  to  lole,  daughter  of  Eury- 
tus,  king  of  Oechalia,  brought  on  him  destruction. 
For  his  wife  Deianira  being  desirous  of  turning  him 
from  unlawful  objects,  sent  him  Nessus'  coat  to  put 
on  when  he  went  to  sacrifice  ;  which  drove  him  into 
such  distraction,  that  he  burned  himself  on  the  pile 
he  had  raised,  and  was  accounted  among  the  num- 
ber of  gods.  The  lines  of  Virgil  in  praise  of  th« 
hero,  shall  finish  my  description. 

-"  ut  prima  no\ercEe 


Monstra  manu,  i^eminosciue  primus  eliserit  anguea; 
Ut  bello  egregias  idem  disjecerlt  urbes, 
Trojamque  (Eclialiamqiie  ;  ut  duros  mille  labores" 
Rege  sub  Eurystheo,  fatis  Junouis  iniquK, 
Pertulerit.     Tu  nubigonas  invicte  bimembres, 
Hylceumqiie,  Pholumque,  manu  ;  tu  Cressia  mactas 
Prodigia,  et  vastura  Nemeae  sub  rupe  leonem. 


257 

To  Stigii  tremuere  lacus  ;  te  janitor  Orci,  ,    ,  .. 

Ossa  super  recubans  antro  semesa  cruento.  ';   [ 

]Vec  te  uUae  facies,  non  terruit  ipse  Typhoeus,        ,'' 
Arduus,  arma  tenens,  non  te  rationis  egentem 
Lernajus  turba  capitum  circumstetit  anguis. 
Salve,  vera  Jovis  proles,  decus  addite  Divis : 
Et  nos,  et.  tua  dexter  adi  pede  sacra  secundo." 

First,  how  the  mighty  oabe,  when  swath'd  in  bands, 

The  serpents  strangled  with  his  infant  hands ; 

Then,  as  in  years  and  matchless  force  he  grew, 

Th'  CEchalian  walls  and  Trojan  overthrew. 

Besides  a  thousand  hazards  they  relate, 

Procur'd  by  Juno's  and  Euristheus'  hate. 

Thy  hands,  unconquer'd  hero  !  could  subdue 

The  cloud-born  centaurs,  and  the  monster  crewj 

Nor  thy  resistless  arm  the  bull  withstood ; 

Nor  he  the  roaring  terror  of  the  wood. 

The  triple  porter  of  the  Stygian  seat. 

With  lolling  tongue,  lay  fawning  at  thy  feet,  ' 

And  seiz'd  with  fear,  forgot  thy  mangled  meat 

Th^  infernal  waters  trembled  at  thy  sight ; 

Thee  god  !  no  face  of  danger  could  atiright ;  '' 

Not  huge  Typhceus,  nor  th'  unnumber'd  snakes ;        >; 

Increas'  with  hissing  heads  in  Lerna's  lake. 

Hail,  Jove's  undoubted  son  !  an  added  gi-ace  , 

To  heav'n,  and  the  great  author  of  thy  race. 

Receive  the  grateful  off'rings  which  we  pay, 

And  smile  propitious  on  thy  solemn  day. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXJlMmATIOJV. 

Who  w^ere  the  Semi-Dei  ? 

What  account  is  given  of  the  heroes  ? 

Who  Avas  Hercules  ? 

Who  was  the  twin-brother  of  Hercules,  and  for  what  was  be 
celebrated  ? 

How  did  Juno  act  with  regard  to  Hercules  ? 

By  whom  was  she  reconciled;  and  what  w^as  the  consequenoe 
of  the  reconciliation  ? 

What  were  the  proper  names  of  Hercules ;  and  how  did  bd 
delve  them  ? 

Why  was  Hercules  subject  to  Euristheus  ? 

Repeat  the  Latin  lines  descriptive  of  Hercules'  labours. 

What  was  his  first  labour  ? 

What  was  his  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh,  eighth, 
ninth,  tenth,  eleventh,  twelfth.' 

What  did  he  do  with  regard  to  Antaeus.'' 

How  did  he  act  with  B?^n4s  ?  ^J""'^ 

Why  did  he  kill  the  giants^MUiCJIl  and  Bergeon? 

22* 


258 

What  was  his  conduct  with  regard  to  Atlas,  Cacas,  Prome- 
theus, and  Theodamus  ? 

How  did  he  deliver  Hesione  ? 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  fable  of  Achelous? 

What  is  related  of  Deianira  ? 


CHAPTER  n. 

JASON.  THESEUS 

Jason,  the  son  of  (Eson,  king  of  Thessalla,  by 
Alcimede,  was  an  infant  when  his  father  died,  so  that 
his  uncle  Pelius  administered  the  government. 

When  he  came  of  age,  he  demanded  possession 
of  the  crown  ;  but  PeHus  advised  him  to  Colchis, 
under  pretence  of  gaining  the  golden  fleece  thence, 
though  his  real  intention  was  to  kill  him  with  the 
labour  and  danger  of  the  journey. 

The  golden  fleece  was  the  hide  of  a  ram,  of  a 
white  or  purple  colour,  which  was  given  to  Phryxus, 
son  of  Athamus  and  Nephele,  by  his  mother.  Phryx- 
us and  his  sister  Helle,  fearing  the  designs  of  their 
stepmotlier  Ino,  got  on  a  ram  to  save  themselves  by 
flight.  But  while  they  swam  over  the  narrowest 
part  of  Pontus,  Helle,  afli'ighted  at  the  tossing  of 
the  waves,  fell  down ;  whence  the  sea  was  called 
Hellespont.  Phryxus  was  carried  over  safe  ;  and 
went  to  ^ta,  king  of  Colchis,  a  country  of  Asia, 
near  the  Pontns ;  where  he  was  kindly  received, 
and  sacrificed  the  ram  to  Jupiter,  or  ]\Iars,  who  af- 
terwards placed  it  among  the  constellations.  Only 
his  hide  or  fleece  was  hung  up  in  a  grove  sacred  to 
Mars.  It  was  called  the  Golden  Fleece,  because  it 
was  of  a  golden  colour  ;  and  it  was  guarded  by  bulls 
that  breathed  fire  from  their  nostrils,  and  by  a  vast 
and  watchful  dragon,  as  a  sacred  and  divine  pledge, 
and  as  a  thi'ng  of  the  greatest  importance. 


259 

Jason  went  on  board  a  ship  called  Argo,  from  the 
builder  of  that  name ;  and  chose  forty-nine  noble 
companions,  who,  from  the  ship,  were  called  Argo- 
nautae,  among  whom  were  Hercules,  Orpheus,  Cas 
.or,  and  Pollux.  In  his  voyage,  he  visited  Hipsy- 
phile,  queen  of  Lemnos,  who  had  twins  by  him. 
Then,  after  a  long  voyage,  and  many  dangers,  he 
arrived  at  Colchis,  and  demanded  the  Golden  Fleece 
of  king  ^ta,  who  granted  his  request,  on  condition 
that  he  tamed  the  bulls  which  guarded  it;  killed  the 
dragon,  and  sowed  his  teeth  in  the  ground ;  and 
lastly,  destroyed  the  soldiers  who  sprang  from  the 
ground  where  these  teeth  were  sown.  Jason  undertook 
the  thing,  and  was  delivered  from  manifest  destruc- 
tion by  the  assistance  of  Medea,  the  king's  daughter, 
who  was  in  love  with  him.  For,  observing  her  di- 
rections, he  overcame  the  bulls,  laid  the  dragon 
asleep,  carried  away  the  fleece,  and  fled  by  night, 
carrying  Medea  with  him,  whom  he  afterward  mar- 
ried. 

^ta  pursued  them,  but  his  daughter,  to  stop  his 
pursuit,  tore  her  brother  Absyrtus,  who  went  with 
her,  in  pieces,  and  scattered  the  limbs  on  the  road ; 
that  when  her  father  saw  the  torn  members  of  his 
son,  he  might  stop  to  gather  them  up.  So  Jason 
and  the  Argonautae  returned  to  their  own  country, 
where  Medea  by  her  charms  restored  Jason's  father, 
the  old  decrepid  ^son,  to  youth  again ;  though 
some  say  that  ^son  died  before  their  return.  Af- 
ter this,  Jason  divorcing  himself  from  Medea,  he 
married  Creusa,  the  daughter  of  Creon,  king  of 
Corinth  :  and  Medea,  to  revenge  his  perfidiousness, 
not  only  murdered  the  two  children  that  she  had  by 
him  in  his  own  sight,  but,  in  the  next  place,  enclosed 
fire  in  a  little  box,  and  sent  it  to  Creusa,  who  opened 
the  box,  and  by  the  fire  which  burst  out  of  it,  was 
burnt,  together  with  the  whole  court.  When  she 
had  done  this,  the  admirable  sorceress  flew  by  magic 


260 

art  to  Athens.  Some  write  that  she  was  reconciled 
afterwards  to  Jason.  But  what  has  been  said  is 
enough  for  this  hero ;  let  us  proceed  to 

Theseus,  whose  parents  were  jEthra  and  ^geus, 
king  of  Athens.  Minos,  kuig  of  Crete,  made  war 
against  jEgeus,  because  the  Athenians  had  disho- 
nourably and  barbarously  killed  his  son,  who  carried 
the  prize  in  the  games.  When  he  had  banished  the 
Athenians,  he  imposed  this  severe  condition  upon 
them,  that  they  should  send  seven  of  the  most  noble 
youths  of  their  country  into  Crete  by  lot  every  year. 
In  the  fourth  year  the  lot  fell  upon  Theseus,  which 
mightily  grieved  and  troubled  his  father  jEgeus. 
Theseus  went  on  board  a  ship,  whose  sails  and 
tackle  were  black,  and  received  this  command  from 
his  father  :  "  If  by  the  propitious  providence  of  hea- 
ven he  escaped  the  dangers,  and  did  return  safe 
unto  his  own  countr}^  again,  that  then  he  should 
change  his  black  sails  into  white  ones,  that  his 
father,  being  assured  of  his  safety  by  that  signal, 
might  be  sensible  of  his  happiness  as  soon  as  might 
be." 

The  event  was  fortunate  to  Theseus;  but  very 
unfortunate  to  his  father  iEgeus  :  for  when  Theseus 
came  to  Crete,  he  was  shut  up  in  the  Labyrinth ; 
but  he  slew  the  Minotaur,  and  escaped  out  of  that 
inextricable  prison  by  the  help  of  Ariadne.  After 
this  he  set  sail  for  Athens  in  the  same  mournful  ship 
in  which  he  came  to  Crete,  but  forgot  to  change  his 
sails,  according  to  the  instructions  which  his  father 
had  given  him ;  so  that,  when  his  father  beheld 
from  a  watchtower  the  ship  returning  with  black 
sails,  he  imagined  that  his  son  was  dead,  and  cast 
himself  headlong  into  the  sea,  which  was  afterward 
called  the  ^gean  or  Black  Sea,  from  his  name  and 
destiny. 

Ariadne  was  the  daughter  of  Minos,  king  ol 
Crete.     She  having  delivered  Theseus  out  of  the 


261 

labyrinth  by  the  means  of  a  thread,  followed  him  in 
his  return  to  the  island  of  Naxiio,  where  he  perfidi- 
ously and  ungratefully  left  her.  But  Bacchus,  pity- 
ing her  miseiable  condition,  married  her,  and  gave 
her  a  crown  that  was  illuminated  with  seven  stars, 
which  he  had  before  received  from  Venus.  This 
crown  was  called  Gnossia  Corona ;  and  Ariadne  her- 
self was  surnamed  Gnossis,  from  the  city  of  that 
name  in  Crete.  After  the  death  ci  Ariadne,  the 
same  was  carried  among  the  stars,  and  made  a  con- 
stellation in  the  heavens.  It  was  thought  that  Diana 
caused  the  death  of  Ariadne,  because  she  preserved 
not  her  virginity. 

The  actions  of  Theseus  were  so  famous,  that  they 
accounted  him  a  Hercules.  For,  1.  He  killed  the 
Minotaur.  2.  He  overcame  the  Centaurs.  3.  He 
vanquished  the  Thebans.  4.  He  defeated  the  Ama- 
aons.  5.  He  went  down  into  hell ;  and  returned 
back  into  the  world  again. 

He  and  Pirithous,  his  most  intimate  friend,  the 
lawful  son  of  Ixion,  agreed  never  to  marry  any  wo- 
men except  Jupiter's  daughters.  Theseus  married 
Helena,  the  daughter  of  Jupiter  and  Led  a,  and 
none  of  Jupiter's  daughters  remained  on  the  earth 
for  Pirithous ;  therefore  they  both  went  down  into 
hell  to  steal  Proserpine  away  from  h^r  husband 
Pluto.  As  soon  as  they  entered  hell,  Pirithous  was 
unfortunately  torn  in  pieces  by  the  dog  Cerberus ; 
but  Theseus  came  alive  into  the  palace  of  Pluto, 
who  fettered  him,  and  kept  him  till  Hercules  was 
sent  into  hell  by  Euristheus  to  rescue  him. 

The  Amazons  were  women'  animated  with  the 
souls  and  bravery  of  men  ;  a  military  race,  inhabit- 
ing that  part  of  Scythia  which  is  washed  by  the 
river  Tanais.  They  were  called  Amazons,  ^either 
because  they  cut  oiT  one  of  their  breasts,  or  f  because 

•  Ab  «  privativo  et  fia^es  mamma, 
t  Ab  «/««  simul  et  ^k  vivere. 


262 

they  lived  together  without  the  society  ot  men 
They  were  a  nation  of  women,  who,  that  the  country 
might  have  inhabitants  and  not  be  depopulated,  when 
the  present  race  of  women  died,  admitted  the  ad- 
dresses of  the  neiglibouring  young  men.  They  kill- 
ed the  boys  at  tlieir  birth,  but  brought  up  the  girls. 
They  cut  off  their  right  breast  that  they  might  more 
conveniently  use  their  hands  in  shooting  their  ar- 
rows, and  brandishing  their  weapons  against  their 
enemy.  These  female  warriors,  by  their  frequent 
Excursions,  became  possessors  of  a  great  part  ot 
Asia,  when  Hercules,  accompanied  with  Theseus, 
made  war  upon  them,  and  defeated  them ;  and 
taking  Hippolyte,  their  queen,  prisoner,  he  gave 
her  in  marriage  to  Theseus. 

Theseus  had  by  Hippolyte  his  son  Hippolytus, 
who  was  very  beautiful,  and  mightily  addicted  to 
hunting,  and  a  remarkable  lover  of  chastity ;  for 
when  ^Phaedra,  his  step  mother,  (the  daughter  of 
king  Minos,  whom  Theseus  had  preferred  to  her 
sister  Ariadne)  made  love  to  him,  he  repulsed  her. 
This  repulse  provoked  her  so  much,  that  when  her 
husband  returned,  she  accused  him  wrongfully. 
Theseus  gave  ear  to  the  wicked  woman,  and  behev- 
ed  her  untruth  against  his  son  Hippolytus,  who  per- 
ceiving it,  fled  away  in  his  chariot.  In  his  flight  he 
met  several  monstrous  sea-calves,  which  frighted  his 
horses,  so  that  they  threw  him  out  of  his  seat,  his 
feet  were  entangled  in  the  harness,  and  he  was  drag- 
ged through  the  thickets  oi*  a  wood,  and  torn  to 
pieces  miserably.  iEsculapius  afterwards,  at  the 
request  of  Diana,  restored  him  to  life  again.  But 
he  however  left  Greece  and  came  into  Italy,  where 
he  changed  his  name  to  fVirbius,  because  he  had 
been  a  man  twice.  Phaedra  was  gnawn  with  the 
stings  of  her  own  conscience,  and  hanged  herself. 

•  0\rid.  in  Ep.  Phaedr, 
t  Quod,  vir  bis  esset. 


V-      OF  THB  '      \ 


263 

And  not  long  after,  Theseus,  being  banished  from 
his  country,  ended  an  illustrious  life  with  an  obscure 
death. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATIOK. 

Who  was  Jason;  and  why  sent  after  the  Golden  Fleece? 
What  was  the  Golden  Fleece? 
Whence  was  the  Hellespont  named  ? 
By  whose  assistance  did  Jason  procure  the  Fleece? 
Who  was  Medea,  and  what  were  her  actions? 
Who  was  Theseus,  and  what  were  his  actions  ? 
i^^gean  or  Black  Sea ;  why  so  called  ? 
Who  was  Ariadne,  and  what  happened  to  her? 
What  agreement  w^as  made  between  Theseus  and  Perithooj; 
Upd  what  became  of  the  latter  ? 

Who  were  the  Amazons  ;  and  what  account  is  given  of  IheiB? 
What  is  the  story  of  Hippolytus  ? 
What  became  of  Phaedra  and  Theseus  ? 


CHAPTER  m. 

CASTOR  AND  POLLUX. 

Castor  and  Pollux  are  twin  brothers,  the  sons  of 
Jupiter  and  Leda,  who  was  the  wife  of  Tyndarus, 
king  of  Laconia,  whom  Jupiter  loved,  but  could  not 
succeed  in  his  amour  till  he  changed  himself  into  a 
swan ;  which  swan  was  afterwards  made  a  constel- 
lation. Leda  produced  two  eggs^  which  hatched 
the  twin  brothers.  Out  of  one  ^g^  came  Pollux 
and  Helena,  who  sprang  from  Jupiter,  and  were 
therefore  immortal.  But  out  of  the  other,  by  Tyn- 
darus' her  husband,  came  "^Castor  and  Clytemnes- 
tra,  who  were  mortal.  Yet  both  Castor  and  Pollux 
are  frequently  called  Tyndaridse  by  the  poets,  as 
Helena  is  also  called  Tyndaris,  from  the  same  king 
Tyndarus. 

•  Hor.  Sat.  I. 


264 

Castor  and  Pollux  accompanied  Jason  when  h^ 
sailed  to  Colchis  ;  and,  when  he  returned  thence, 
they  recovered  their  sister  Helena  from  Theseus,  who 
had  stolen  her,  by  overcoming  the  Athenians  that 
fought  for  him,  to  whom  tlieir  clemency  and  hu- 
manity were  so  great  after  the  defeat,  that  the  Athe- 
nians called  them  the  sons  of  Jupiter ;  and  hence 
white  lambs  were  offered  upon  their  altars.  *But 
although  they  were  both  at  the  same  birth,  and,  as 
some  think  out  of  the  same  egg^  yet  their  tempers 
were  different. 

Castor  being,  as  some  say,  a  mortal  person,  was 
killed  by  Lynceus :  upon  which  Pollux  prayed  to 
Jupiter  to  restore  him  to  life  again,  and  confer  an 
immortality  upon  him.  But  this  could  not  be  grant- 
ed. However,  he  obtained  leave  to  divide  his  im- 
mortality between  himself  and  his  brother  Castor, 
and  thence  it  came  to  pass  f  that  they  lived  after- 
wards by  turns  every  other  day,  or,  as  some  say, 
every  other  fortnight.  After  the  death  of  Castor,  a 
kind  o^ pyrrliick,  or  dance  in  armour,  was  instituted 
to  his  honour  ;  which  was  performed  by  young  men 
armed,  and  called  J"  Castor's  dance." 

At  length  they  both  were  translated  into  heaven, 
and  made  a  constellation,  which  is  still  called  Gemi- 
ni. Sailors  esteem  these  stars  lucky  and  prosperous 
to  them,  "^because,  when  the  Argonauts  were  driven 

*  "  Castor  gaudet  equis:  Ovo  prognalus  eodem, 
Pugnis :  quot  capitum  vivunt,  totidem  in  studiorum 
Millia."  Horat.  Smn.  %  \ 

As  many  men,  so  mf^ny  their  delights. 

t  "  Sic  fratem  Pollux  alterna  morte  redemit, 

Itque  reditque  viam."  Virg,  JSn,  & 

Tlius  Pollux,  offering  his  alternate  life, 
Could  free  his  brother.     They  did  daily  go 
By  turns  aloft,  by  turns  descend  below. 

\  Plin,  1.  7.  c.  5.  7.  ap.  Nat  Com. 
4  Hor.  Carm.  3. 


265 

by  a  violent  tempest,  two  lambent  flames  settled 
upon  the  heads  of  Castor  and  Pollux,  and  a  calm 
imniediateiy  ensued  :  from  which  a  virtue  more  than 
human  was  thought  to  be  lodged  in  these  youths* 
If  only  one  flame  appeared,  they  called  it  Helena, 
and  it  was  esteemed  fatal  and  destructive  to  mari- 
ners. 

There  was  a  famous  temple  dedicated  to  Castor 
and  Pollux  in  the  Forum  at  Rome ;  for  it  was  be- 
lieved, that  in  the  dangerous  battle  of  the  Romans 
with  the  Latins,  they  assisted  the  Romans,  ri.ding 
upon  white  horses.  And  hence  came  that  form  of 
swearing  by  the  temple  of  Castor,  which  women 
only  used,  saying,  "^Ecastor :  whereas,  when  men 
swore,  they  usually  swore  by  Hercules,  using  the 
words  jHercule,  Hercle,  Hercules,  Mehercules,  Me- 
hercule.  But  both  men  and  women  swore  by  the 
temple  of  Pollux,  using  the  word  -^depol,  an  oath 
common  to  them  both. 

Clytemnestra  was  married  to  Agamemnon,  whom, 
after  his  return  from  the  siege  of  Troy,  she  killed 
by  the  help  of  jEgisthus ;  with  whom,  in  the  mean 
time,  she  had  lived.  She  attempted  also  to  kill  his 
son  Orestes,  and  would  have  done  so,  Jif  his  sister 
Electra  had  not  delivered  him  at  the  very  point  of 
destruction,  sending  him  privately  to  Strophius,  king 
of  Phocis.  After  Orestes  had  lived  there  twelve 
years,  he  returned  to  his  own  country,  and  slew  both 
Clytemnestra  and  iEgistlius.  He  killed  also  Pyrr- 
hus,  in  the  temple  of  Apollo ;  because  he  had  car- 
ried away  Hermione,  the  daughter  of  Menelaus,  who 
was  first  betrothed  to  Orestes.  ^Therefore  the  Fu- 
ries tormented  him ;  neither  could  he  obtain  deli* 
verance  from  them,  till  he  had  expiated  his  crimes 

•  jEcastor,  et  .'fidepol.    id  est,  per  aidem  Castoris  et  FoIIucb. 
t  Passim  apiid  Terp.nt.     Plant.  CAcGV.  k.c. 
t  Soph,  ill  Electr.  Eiirip.  in  Orest 
§  Cic.  de  Amicit. 

23 


2G6 

at  the  altar  of  Diana  Tanrica,  whither  he  was  con"* 
ducted  by  iiis  friend  P\  lades,  liis  perpetual  com- 
panion and  partner  in  all  his  dangers  ;  "^their  friend- 
ship was  so  close  and  sacred,  that  either  of  them 
would  die  for  the  other. 

The  goddess  Diana,  who  was  worshipped  in  Tau» 
rica  Chersonesus,  or  Chcrronesus,  a  })eninsnla,  so 
called  from  the  Tauri,  an  ancient  people  of  Sc ythia 
EuropaB.  She  was  worshipped  with  human  victims; 
the  lives  and  the  blood  of  men  being  sacrificed  to 
fier.  When  Orestes  went  thither,  his  sister  Iphi- 
genia,  the  daughter  of  Agamemnon,  was  priestess  to 
Diana  Taurica  :  she  was  made  priestess  on  the  fol- 
lowing occasion. 

Agamemnon,  king  of  the  Argives,  was,  bj  the 
common  consent  of  the  Grecians,  appointed  general 
in  their  expedition  against  Troy ;  and  after  his  re- 
turn home,  was  killed  by  his  own  wife  Clytemnestra. 
This  Agamemnon  killed  a  deer  by  chance,  in  the 
country  of  Aulis,  which  belonged  to  Diana ;  the 
goddess  was  angry,  and  caused  such  a  calm,  that 
for  want  of  wind,  the  Grecian  ships  bound  for  Troy, 
were  fixed  and  immoveable  :  upon  this  they  consult- 
ed the  soothsayers,  who  answered,  f  that  they  must 
satisfy  the  winds,  and  Diana,  with  some  of  the  blood 
of  Agamemnon.  Therefore  Ulysses  was  forthwith 
sent  to  bring  away  Iphigenia,  the  daughter  of  Aga* 
memnon,  from  her  mother,  by  a  trick,  under  pre- 
tence of  marrj'ing  her  to  Achilles.  While  theyomig 
lady  stood  at  the  altar  to  be  sacrificed,  the  goddesi 
pitied  her,  and  substituted  a  hind  in  her  stead,  and 
gent  her  to  Taurica  Chersonesus  ;  where,  by  the  or- 
der of  kingThoas,  she  presided  over  those  sacrifices 
of  the  goddess,  v.hich  were  solemnized  with  human 
blood.  When  Orestes  was  brouglit  thither  by  the 
inhabitants  to  be  sacrificed,  he  was  known  and  pre- 

*  Eurip.  in  Ipliig.  in  Taur. 
t  Eurip.  in  Iphip.  in  Taur. 


.<i^^ 


/>  J  ST 


M^^ui^js^xu'^ 


267 

served  b}'  his  sister.  After  which  Thoas  was  kill* 
ed,  and  the  image  of  Diana,  which  lay  hidden 
among  a  bundle  of  sticks,  was  carried  away ;  and 
hence  Diana  was  called  Fascelis,  from  fascis,  a 
"  bundle." 

qUESTWKS  FOR  EXAMUCATION. 

Who  were  Castor  and  Pollux,  and  what  was  their  origin  ? 

Why  were  white  Iambs  offered  upon  their  altars? 

What  became  of  Castor,  and  wliat  was  granted  to  him  at  tho 
request  of  his  brother? 

What  dotlie  Sailors  say  of  the  stars  Castor  and  Pollux? 

What  is  related  of  the  temple  dedicated  to  them  ? 

What  is  the  story  of  Clyternnestra  ? 

Who  was  Diana  Taurica ;  how  was  she  worshipped  ;  and  wh© 
was  her  priestess  ? 

What  is  related  of  Agamemnon? 

On  what  account  was  Diana  called  Fascelis? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PERSEU3.    iESCULAPIUS. 

Perseus  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Danae,  the 
daughter  of  Acrisius,  who  was  shut  up  by  her  father 
in  a  very  strong  tower,  where  no  man  could  enter, 
because  her  father  had  been  told  by  an  oracle,  that 
he  should  be  killed  by  his  own  grandchild.  But 
nothing  is  impregnable  to  love  :  for  Jupiter,  as  we 
are  told  by  Horace,  by  changing  himself  into  a 
shower  of  gold,  descended  through  the  tiles  into  the 
lady's  apartment. 

"Inclnsam  Dana^n  turris  ahenca 
Robusla^Miue  fores,  el  vigilum  canum 
Tristcs  excubia^  munierant  satis 

Noclurnis  ab  adulteris- 
Si  r.oii  Acrisium,  virginis  abdita? 
Custodim  pavidura,  J.    iter  et  Venus 
Rir.issent:  foie  enim  tutum  iter  et  patens, 

Converse  in  pretium  Deo."  Carm.  J.  3.  10, 


268 

Witliin  a  brazen  tow'r  immur'd, 

By  dogs  and  ceritinels  secur'd, 
From  midnight  revels,  and  intrigues  of  love, 

Fair  Dana?  was  kept  within  her  guardian's  pow'r; 
But  gentle  Venus  smi'.'d,  and  anurous  Jove 

Knew  he  could  soon  unlock  the  door, 
And  by  his  art  successful  prove, 

Changed  to  a  golden  show'r. 

As  soon  as  Acrisius  had  heard  tliat  his  daughter 
bad  brought  forth  a  son,  lie  ordered  that  she  and 
the  infant  should  be  shut  up  in  a  chest,  and  thrown 
into  the  sea  :  the  chest  was  driven  to  the  island  Se- 
riphus,  where  a  fisherman  found  it,  took  them  out, 
and  presented  them  to  king  Pol jdectes ;  who  be- 
came enamoured  of  Danae,  and  brought  up  her  son; 
whom  he  called  Perseus. 

Perseus,  when  he  was  grown  a  man,  received  from 
Mercury  a  scythe  of  adamant,  and  wings,  which  he 
fixed  to  his  feet :  Pluto  gave  him  a  helmet,  and 
Minerva  a  shield  of  brass,  so  bright,  that  it  reflected 
the  images  of  things,  like  a  looking-glass.  His  first 
exploit  was  the  deliverance  of  Andromeda,  the 
daughter  of  Cepheus,  king  of  Ethiopia,  who  was 
bound  by  the  nymphs  to  a  rock,  to  be  devoured  by 
a  sea-monster,  because  her  mother  Cassiope,  or  Cas- 
siopeia, had  proudly  preferred  her  daughter's  beau- 
ty to  theirs ;  and  when  he  had  delivered  her,  he 
took  her  to  wife.  After  which,  both  the  mother 
and  the  daughter,  and  the  son-in-law,  were  placed 
among  the  celestial  constellations.  His  next  expe- 
dition was  against  the  Gorgons,  of  whom  we  have 
spoken  before  :  he  encountered  Medusa,  their  prin- 
cess, whose  head  was  supplied  with  snakes  in  the 
place  of  hair  ;  he  saw  the  image  of  her  head  by  the 
brightness  of  his  shield,  and,  by  the  favourable  as- 
sistance of  Minerva,  struck  it  off:  he  then  fixed  it 
upon  a  shield,  and,  by  showing  it,  afterward  turned 
many  persons  into  stone.  Atlas  was  turned  by  the 
sight  of  it,  into  the  mountain  in  Mauritania  of  that 


269 

name :  because  he  rudely  refused  to  entertain  Per- 
seus. When  Medusa's  head  was  cut  off,  the  horse 
Pegasus  sprang  Irom  the  blood  which  fell  on  the 
ground,  he  was  so  called  from  ^ryiyv  [^p^ge]  "  a 
fountain,"  because  he  was  produced  near  the  foun- 
tains of  the  sea.  This  horse  had  wings  ;  and  flying 
over  the  mountain  Helicon,  he  struck  it  with  his  hoof, 
and  opened  a  fountain,  which  they  call  in  Greek, 
Hippocrene ;  and  in  Latin,  Fons  Caballinus ;  that 
is,  the  "  horse  fountain."  But  afterward,  while  he 
drank  at  the  fountain  Pyrene  in  Corinth,  where  Bel- 
lerophon  prepared  himself  for  his  expedition  against 
the  Chimsera,  he  was  taken  by  him  and  kept. 

Bellerophon's  first  name  was  Hipponus ;  because 
he  first  taught  the  art  of  governing  horses  with  a 
bridle :  but  when  he  had  killed  Bellerus,  a  king  of 
Corinth,  he  was  afterward  called  Bellerophontes. 
This  Bellerophon,  the  son  of  Glaucus,  king  of 
Ephyra,  was  equally  beautiful  and  virtuous ;  he  re- 
sisted all  the  temptations  by  which  Sthenobsea,  the 
wife  of  Prsetus,  enticed  him  to  love  her ;  and  his 
repulses  provoked  her  so,  that  in  revenge  she  accus- 
ed the  innocent  stranger  to  her  husband.  Praetus, 
however,  would  not  violate  the  laws  of  hospitality 
with  the  blood  of  Bellerophon,  but  sent  him  into 
Lycia,  to  his  father-in-law  Jobates,  with  letters, 
which  desired  him  to  punish  Bellerophon,  as  his 
crime  deserved.  Jobates  read  the  letters,  and  sent 
him  to  fight  against  the  Solymi,  that  he  might  be 
killed  in  the  battle  :  but  he  easily  vanquished  them, 
and  in  many  other  dangers,  to  which  he  was  expos- 
ed, he  always  came  off  conqueror.  At  last  he  was 
sent  to  kill  the  Chima:}ra ;  which  he  undertook,  and 
performed,  when  he  had  procured  the  horse  Pegasus, 
by  the  help  of  Neptune.  Therefore  Jobates,  ad- 
miring the  bravery  of  the  youth,  gave  him  one  of 
his  daughters  to  wife,  allotting  him  also  a  part  of 
his  kingdom.  Sthenobsea  killed  herself  when  she 
23* 


270 

heard  this.  This  happy  success  so  transported  Bel 
lerophon,  tliat  he  endeavoured  to  fly  upon  Pegasus 
to  heaven  ;  Tor  which  Jupiter  struck  him  with  mad- 
ness, and  he  fell  from  his  liorse  into  a  fieUl  called 
Aleius  Campus,  "^because  in  that  place  Bellerophoii 
wandered  up  and  down  blind,  to  the  end  of  his  life  : 
but  Pegasus  was  placed  among  the  stars.  Some  say 
that  this  was  the  occasion  of  the  fable  of  the  Chi- 
mcera.  Tliere  was  a  famous  pirate,  who  used  to  sail 
m  a  ship  in  whose  prow  was  painted  a  lion,  in  the 
stern  a  dragon,  and  by  the  body  of  the  ship  a  goat 
was  described  ;  and  this  pirate  was  killed  by  Belle- 
rophon,  in  a  long  boat  that  was  called  Pegasus. 
From  the  letters  which  Bellerophon  carried  Jobates, 
fcomes  the  proverb,  "  Bellerophon's  letters  ;"  when 
any  a:ie  carries  letters,  wiiich  he  imagines  are  wrote 
in  his  favour,  but  are  sent  to  procure  his  ruin  :  and 
such  letters  are  frequentl}'  called  "  Letters  of  Uriah," 
for  the  same  reason. 

jEsculapius  is  represented  as  a  bearded  old  man, 
leaning  on  his  jointed  cane,  adorned  with  a  crown  of 
laurel,  and  encompassed  with  dogs.  He  is  the  god 
of  the  physicians  and  physic,  and  the  son  of  Apollo 
by  the  nymph  Ceronis.  He  improved  the  art  of 
physic,  which  before  was  little  understood ;  and  for 
that  reason  they  accounted  him  a  god.  Apollo  shot 
tlie  nymph  his  mother  when  she  was  pregnant,  be- 
cause she  admitted  the  addresses  of  another  young 
man  after  he  had  become  enamoured  of  her.  But 
he  repented  after  he  had  killed  her,  took  out  the 
child  alive,  and  delivered  him  to  be  educated  by  the 
physician  Chiron,  Jwho  taught  him  his  own  art : 
the  youth  made  so  great  a  progress  in  it,  that  be- 
cause he  restored  health  to  the  sick,  and  gave  safety 

•    Al)  aXiUU  2XVO. 

f  ^iXXipipnTo;  '^^afj^fiura,  Bclkrophonlii  UtereR  nsildtius  dictS| 
LilerfT  i'ri(t. 
J  Ovid  Mel.  1. 


271 

to  those  whose  condition  was  desperate,  he  was 
thought  to  have  a  power  of  recalling  the  dead  to  life 
again.  Upon  this  Pluto,  the  king  of  hell,  ^com- 
plained to  Jupiter  that  his  revenue  was  very  much 
diminished,  and  his  subjects  taken  from  him  by 
means  of  ^Esculapius  ;  and  at  length,  by  his  persua- 
sion, Jupiter  killed  him  with  a  stroke  of  thunder. 

He  wears  a  crown  of  laurel,  because  that  tree  is 
powerful  in  curing  many  diseases.  By  the  knots  in 
his  stall',  is  signified  the  difficulty  of  the  study  of 
physic.  He  has  dogs  painted  about  him,  and  dogs 
in  his  temple ;  because  many  believe  that  he  was 
born  of  uncertain  parents,  and  exposed,  and  after- 
ward nourished  by  a  bitch.  fOthers  say,  that  a 
goat,  which  was  pursued  by  a  dog,  gave  suck  to  the 
forsaken  infant ;  and  that  the  shepherds  saw  a  lam- 
bent tiaine  playing  about  his  head,  which  was  a  prog- 
nostication of  his  future  divinity.  The  Cyrenians 
used  to  olfer  a  goat  to  him  in  the  sacrifices ;  either 
because  he  was  nourished  by  a  goat,  as  was  said,  Jor 
because  a  goat  is  always  in  a  fever ;  and  therefore 
a  goat's  constitution  is  very  contrary  to  health. 
§Piato  says,  that  they  used  to  sacrifice  dung-hill 
cocks  to  him,  which  are  deemed  the  most  vigilant  of 
all  birds ;  for  of  all  virtues,  watchfulness  is  chiefly 
necessary  to  a  physician. 

^sculapius  was  worshipped  first  at  Epidaurus, 
where  he  was  born  ;  afterward  at  Rome,  because,  on 
being  sent  for  thither,  he  delivered  the  city  from  a 
dreadful  pestilence.  For  which  reason,  a  temple 
was  dedicated  to  him  in  an  island  in  the  mouth  of 
the  Tiber,  where  he  was  worshipped  under  the  form 
of  a  great  serpent ;  for  when  the  Romans  came  to 
Epidaurus  to  transport  the  god  thence  ;  a  great  ser- 

•  VI rj^.  JEn.  7. 

t  Kactiiiit.  de  fals.  Religo.  Paean,  in  Corinlh 

J   Didvm.  I.  3.  Nat.  Cum. 

^  la  Pha^done. 


272 

pent  entered  the  ship,  which  they  believed  was 
^sculapius ;  and  broufj^ht  it  to  Rome  with  them. 
Others  tell  the  story  thus  :  when  tlie  Romans  were 
received  by  the  people  of  Epidaurus  with  all  kind- 
ness, and  were  carried  into  the  temple  of  iEscula- 
pins  ;  the  serpent,  under  whose  image  they  worship- 
ped that  god,  went  voluntarily  into  the  ship  of  the 
Romans. 

I  can  tell  you  nothing  of  the  children  of  iEscula- 
pius,  except  their  names.  He  had  two  sons,  called 
Machaon  and  Podalirius,  both  famous  physicians, 
who  followed  Agamemnon,  the  general  of  the  Gre- 
cians, to  the  Trojan  war,  and  were  very  service- 
able among  the  soldiers ;  and  two  daughters, 
Hygioea  (though  some  think  this  was  his  wife)  and 
Jaso. 

Chiron,  his  master,  was  a  Centaur,  and  the  son  of 
Saturn  and  Phillyra ;  for  when  Saturn  embraced 
that  nymph,  he  suddenly  changed  himself  into  a 
horse,  because  his  wife  Ops  came  in.  Phillyra  was 
born  a  creature,  in  its  upper  parts  like  a  man,  in  its 
lower  parts  like  a  horse.  She  called  it  Chiron ; 
when  he  grew  up,  he  betook  himself  to  the  woods ; 
and  there,  learned  the  virtues  of  herbs,  he  became  a 
most  excellent  physician.  For  his  skill  in  physic, 
and  for  his  other  virtues,  which  were  many,  he  was 
appointed  tutor  to  Achilles  ;  he  also  instructed  Her- 
cules in  astronomy,  and  taught  jEsculapius  physic. 
At  last,  when  he  handled  Hercules'  arrows,  one  of 
them  dipped  in  the  poisonous  blood  of  the  Lernaean 
hydra,  fell  upon  his  foot,  and  gave  him  a  wound  that 
was  incurable,  and  pains  that  were  intolerable ;  in- 
somuch that  he  desired  to  die,  but  could  not,  because 
he  was  born  of  immortal  parents.  Therefore,  at 
length  the  gods  translated  him  into  the  firmament, 
where  he  now  remains ;  for  he  became  a  constella- 
tion called  Sagittarius,  which  is  placed  in  the  zo- 
diac. 


273 

QUESTIOA'S  FOR  EXAMmATlO,Y. 

Who  was  Perseus  ? 

What  order  did  Acrisiiis  give  with  regard  to  his  grandson,  and 
now  was  the  child  saved  ? 

What  were  the  exploits  of  Perseus  ? 

What  is  said  of  Medusa's  head,  and  what  happened  when  it 
was  cut  off? 

How  is  Pegasus  described  ? 

For  what  was  Bellerophon  famous P 

Give  the  circumstances  attending  h*.3  history. 

What  is  meant  by  '*  Bellerophon's  letters;"  and  what  else  are 
they  called  ? 

Who  was  ^sculapius? 

What  became  of  his  mother? 

Under  whose  care  was  yF.sculapins  brought  up? 

What  complaint  was  made  against  him  ? 

Why  does  he  wear  a  crown  of  laurel ;  and  Avhat  do  the  staff 
and  dogs  signify  ? 

Why  were  goats  and  coclcs  sacrificed  to  him? 

Where  was  he  first  worshipped  ;  and  why  was  he  adored  un- 
der the  form  of  a  serpent  ? 

Who  were  iEsculapius's  children? 

What  is  the  history  of  Chiron? 


CHAPTER  II. 

PROMETHEUS.     ATLAS. 

Prometheus,  the  son  of  Japetus,  and  the  father 
of  Deucalion,  was  the  first,  as  we  find  in  history,  that 
formed  man  out  of  clay  ;  which  he  did  with  such  art 
and  skill,  that  Minerva  was  amazed,  and  proflered  to 
procure  him  any  thing  from  heaven ;  which  would 
complete  his  work.  Prometheus  answered,  that  he 
did  not  know  what  in  heaven  v/ould  be  useful  to  him, 
since  he  had  never  seen  heaven.  Therefore  ]\Ii- 
nerva  carried  him  up  into  heaven,  and  showed  hira 
all  its  wonders.  He  observed  that  the  heat  of  the 
sun  would  be  very  useful  in  animating  the  man  which 
he  had  formed  ;  therefore  he  lighted  a  stick  by  the 
wheel  of  the  sun's  chariot,  and  carried  it  lighted  with 
him  to  the  earth.  This  theft  displeased  Jupiter  so 
much,  that  he  sent  Pandora  into  the  world  to  Pro- 


271 

metbeiis,  with  a  box  filled  with  all  sorts  of  evila, 

Proiiiethctis,  jeuring  and  suspecting  the  matter,  re- 
fused to  accept  it;  but  his  brother  Epirnetheus  was 
not  so  cautious  ;  for  he  took  it  and  opened  it,  and 
all  the  c.  ;i^  that  were  in  it  Hew  abroad  among  man- 
kind. VViien  he  perceived  wiiat  he  had  done,  he 
immediately  shut  the  box  again,  and  by  good  for- 
tune hindered  Hope  from  flying  away,  which  stuck 
to  tlie  bottom  of  the  box.  Yon  may  remember  how 
sweetly  Ho:ace  speaks  of  this  theft  of  Prometheus. 

*•  Atidax  omnia  perpeti 

Geiitis  humana  ruit  per  vetitum  nefas. 

Audax  Japeti  genus 
Igneni  t'niiide  mala  gentibiis  intulit ; 

Post  ignem  ajtlierea  domo 
Subductu^n,  macies  et  nova  febrium 

Terris  incubuit  cohors  : 
Semot^<Mie  pri'is  tarda  nece*?itas 

Leuii  corrij)uil  gradum."     Carm.  1.  1. 

No  pow'r  tlie  pride  of  mortals  can  control*. 

Pi-oiie  to  new  crimes,  by  strong  j, resumption  driv'n, 
With  sacrilegious  hiiiids  Prometheus  stole 

Celc-otihl  fire,  ajid  bore  it  down  from  heav'n  : 
The  fatal  present  brought  on  mortal  race 

An  a-niy  of  diseases  ;  death  began 
^Vllh  vi-our  then,  to  mend  its  halting  pace, 

And  found  a  more  compendious  way  to  man. 

Jupiter  punished  Prometheus  in  tins  manner :  he 
commanded  Mercury  to  bind  him  to  the  mountain 
Caucasus :  and  then  he  sent  an  eagle  to  him  there, 
which  continually  gnawed  his  liver.  Yet  some  say, 
that  he  was  not  punished  because  he  stole  fire  from 
heaven,  but  because  he  had  made  a  woman,  which, 
they  say,  is  the  most  pernicious  creature  in  the 
world. 

Prometheus  had  been  ser\Iceable  to  Jupiter,  for 
he  discovered  to  him  his  father  Saturn's  conspiracy, 
and  prevented  the  marriage  of  Jupiter  and  Thetis, 
which  he  foresaw  would  be  fatal ;  therefore  Jupiter 
suflered  Hercules  to  shoot  the  eagle,  and  set  Pro^ 
metheus  at  liberty. 


275 

Tills  perhaps  is  the  meaning  of  this  fable :  Pro- 
metheus, whose  name  is  derived  *froni  a  word 
denoting  foresight  and  providence,  was  a  very  pru- 
dent person  ;  and  because  he  reduced  men,  who  be- 
fore were  rude  and  savage,  to  the  precepts  of  hu- 
manity, he  was  feigned  thence  to  have  made  men 
out  of  dirt :  and  because  he  was  diligent  in  observing 
the  motions  of  the  stars  from  the  mountain  Caucasus, 
therefore  they  said  that  he  was  chained  there.  To 
which  they  added,  that  he  stole  fire  from  the  gods, 
because  he  invented  the  way  of  striking  fire  by  means 
of  the  flint ;  or  was  the  fust  that  discovered  the  na- 
ture of  lightning.  And  lastly,  because  he  applied 
his  mind  to  study  with  great  care  and  solicitude, 
theiefore  they  imagined  an  eagle  preying  upon  his 
liver  continually. 

We  have  said  that  Prometheus  was  the  father  of 
Deucalion,  who  was  king  of  Thessaly.  During  his 
reign,  there  was  so  great  a  deluge,  that  the  whole 
earth  was  overflowed  by  it,  and  all  mankind  entirely 
destroyed,  excepting  only  Deucalion  and  Pyrrha  his 
wife,  who  were  carried  in  a  ship  upon  the  mountain 
Parnassus;  and  when  the  waters  were  abated,  they 
consulted  the  oracle  of  Thenfis,  to  know  by  what 
means  mankind  should  again  be  restored.  The 
oracle  answered  tiiat  mani;ind  w^ould  be  restored  if 
they  cast  the  bones  of  their  great  mother  behind 
them.  'By  great  mother  the  oracle  meant  the  earth; 
and  by  her  bones,  tlie  stones  ;  therefore  casting  the 
stones  behind  their  back,  a  prodigious  miracle  en- 
sued;  for  those  stones  that  were  thrown  by  Deuca- 
lion became  men,  and  those  that  were  thrown  by 
Pyrrha  became  women. 


Saxa 


Missa  viri  inanibus  faciem  ti  Axere  verilcni ; 
Et  de  foemineo  reparata  est  foemina  jaclu. 

•  Ara  rnf  trpefiifiaf,  id  est,  providentia.    Pausan.  in  £1iae» 


276 

Inde  genus  durum  suinus,  experiensque  laborum; 

Et  docuuicnta  damus,  qua  simus  origiue  nali."     Ov.  Met,  1. 


■And  of  tlje  stones 


Those  thrown  by  th'  mari  the  form  of  men  endue; 
And  those  were  women  which  tlie  woman  threw. 
Hence  we,  a  hardy  race,  inni'd  to  pain , 
Our  actions  our  original  explain. 

The  occasion  of  which  fable  was  this  :  Deucalion 
and  his  wile  were  very  pious,  and  by  the  example  of 
their  lives,  and  the  sanctity  ol"  their  manners,  they 
softened  the  men  and  women,  who  before  were  fierce 
and  hard  like  stones,  into  such  gentleness  and  mild- 
ness, that  they  observed  the  rules  of  civil  society  and 
good  behaviour. 

Atlas,  king  of  Mauritania,  the  son  of  Japetus,  and 
brother  of  Prometheus,  is  represented  as  sustaining 
the  heavens  on  his  shoulder*  He  was  forewarned 
by  an  oracle  that  he  would  be  almost  ruined  by  one 
of  the  sons  of  Jupiter,  and  therefore  resolved  to  give 
cntertainnient  to  no  stranger  at  all.  At  last  Perseus, 
who  was  begotten  by  Jupiter,  travelled  by  chance 
through  Atlas*  domiiiions,  and  designed,  in  civility, 
to  visit  him.  But  the  king  excluded  him  the  court, 
which  inhumanity  provoked  him  so  much,  that  put- 
ting his  shield  before  the  eyes  of  Atlas,  and  showing 
him  the  head  of  Medusa,  he  turned  him  into  the 
mountain  of  his  own  name  ;  which  is  of  so  great 
height  that  it  is  believed  to  touch  the  heavens.  Vir- 
gil makes  mention  of  him  in  the  fourth  bock  of  hig 
^neid. 

"  Jamque    volans  apicem  et  latera  ardua  cernit 

Atlantis  diiri,  ccelumque  veitice  fulcit: 
Atlantis,  cinctum  assidue  cui  nubibus  atris 
Piriiferum  caput,  et  vento  pulsatur  et  imbri: 
Tvix  humeros  infusa  te^it ;  turn    fiamina  mento 
Pra3cii)itant  senis,  et  glacie  riget  horrida  barba." 

Now  sees  the  top  of  Atlas  as  he  flies, 

Whose  brawny  back  supports  the  starry  skica : 


277 

AUas,  whose  head  with  piny  forests  crown 'd 
Is  beaten  by  the  winds,  with  foggy  vapours  bound: 
Snows  hide  his  shoulders  ;  from  beneath  his  chin  ' 

The  founts  of  rolling  streams  their  race  begin. 

The  reason  why  the  poets  feigned  that  Atlas  sus- 
tained the  heavens  on  his  slioulders,  was  this :  Atlas 
was  a  very  famous  astronomer,  and  the  first  person 
who  understood  and  taught  the  doctrine  of  the 
sphere ;  and  on  the  same  account  the  poets  tell  us, 
that  his  daughters  were  turned  into  stars. 

By  his  wife  Pelione  he  had  seven  daughters,  whose 
tiames  were  Electra,  Halcyone,  Cel^eno,  Maia,  As- 
terope,  Taygete,  and  Merope  ;  and  they  were  called 
by  one  common  name,  Pleiades ;  and  by  his  wife 
^thra  he  had  seven  other  daughters,  whose  names 
were  Ambrosia,  Euloria,  Pasithop,  Coronis,  Plexa- 
ris,  Pytho,  and  Tyche ;  and  these  were  called  by 
one  common  name,  Hyades,  from  *a  word  which  in 
the  Greek  language  signifies  "  to  rain,"  because, 
when  they  rise  or  set,  they  are  supposed  to  cause 
great  rain;  and  therefore  the  Latins  called  them 
Suculce,  that  is,  "  swine,"  because  the  continual 
rain  that  they  cause  makes  the  roads  so  muddy,  that 
they  seem  to  delight  in  dirt,  like  swine.  Others  de- 
rive their  name  from  Hyas,  their  brother,  who  was 
devoured  by  a  lion  :  his  sisters  were  so  immoderate- 
ly afflicted  and  grieved  at  his  death,  that  Jupiter  in 
compassion  changed  them  into  seven  stars,  which 
appear  in  the  head  of  Taurus.  And  they  are  justly 
called  Hyades,  because  showers  of  tears  flow  from 
llieir  eyes  to  this  day. 

The  Pleiades  derive  their  name  from  a  Greek 
word  signifying  f'  sailing."  From  whence  these 
stars  rise,  they  portend  good  weather  to  navigators, 

•  Ato  m  viiv,  id  est,  pluere. 
"  Navita  quas  Hyades  Grains  ab  imbre  vccat." 
From  rain  the  sailors  call  them  Hyades. 
t  A^fl  TH  ■zffkiiiv  a  navigando,  commodum  enim  tempus  iiavi* 
gationi  ostendunt. 
24 


278 

Because  they  rise  in  the  *sprlng  time,  the  Romans 
call  them  Virgilise.  Yet  others  think  that  they  are 
called  Pleiades  flrom  their  number,  since  they 
never  appear  single,  but  altogether,  except  jVlerope, 
who  is  scan^ely  ever  seen ;  for  she  is  ashamed  that 
she  married  Sisyphus,  a  mortal  man,  when  all  the 
rest  of  the  sisters  married  gods  :  others  call  this  ob- 
scure star  Electra,  because  she  held  her  hand  before 
her  eyes,  and  would  not  look  upon  the  destruction 
of  Troy.  The  Hyades  were  placed  among  the  stars 
because  they  bewailed  immoderately  the  death  of 
their  brother  Hyas ;  and  the  Pleiades  were  trans- 
lated into  heaven,  because  they  incessantly  lamented 
the  hard  fate  of  their  father  Atlas,  who  was  convert- 
ed into  a  mountain.  But  let  us  speak  a  little  about 
their  uncle  Hesperus. 

Hesperus  was  the  brother  of  Atlas,  and  because 
he  lived  some  time  in  Italy,  that  country  was  called 
anciently  Hespera  from  him.  He  frequently  went 
up  tc  the  top  of  the  mountain  Atlas  to  view  the  stars. 
At  last  he  went  up  and  came  down  from  the  moun- 
tain no  more.  This  made  the  people  imagine  that 
he  was  carried  up  into  heaven  ;  upon  which  they 
worshipped  him  as  a  god,  and  called  a  very  bright 
star  from  his  name  Hesperus,  Hesper,  Hesperugo, 
Vesper  and  Vesperugo,  which  is  called  the  evening 
star,  when  it  sets  after  the  sun  ;  but  when  it  rises  be- 
fore the  sun,  it  is  called  (puT^o^og  [^Fhosphorusl  or 
Lucifer ;  that  is  the  morning  star.  Further,  this 
Hesperus  had  three  daughters,  Egle,  Prethusa,  and 
Hesperethusa ;  who  in  general  were  called  the  Hes- 
perides.  It  was  said,  that  in  their  gardens,  trees  were 
planted  that  bore  golden  fruit ;  and  that  these  trees 
were  guarded  by  a  watchful  dragon,  which  Hercu- 
les killed,  and  then  carried  away  the  golden  apples. 

*  Virgiliae  dictae  a  verno  tempore  quod  exoriuntur. 
i  Quasi  zrXiiDvis,  hoc  estj  plures,  quod  nuuKiuam  singulae  aij*. 
pareant,  sed  omnes  siniul. 


270 

Hence  the  phrase,  *to  give  some  of  the  apples  oi 
the  Hesperides ;  that  is,  to  give  a  great  and  splen- 
did gift. 

qUESTIOA'S  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

Who  was  Prometheus  ? 

What  did  he  bring  I'lom  heaven? 

Wliat  did  Jupiter  do  in  c.ousequence  ? 

How  did. Tiipiter  punish  Prometheus? 

Why  did  he  set  him  at  liberty  ? 

From  what  is  the  name  of  Prometheus  derived,  and  wnat  i« 
the  meanino;  of  the  fable  ? 

VVhal  i^  the  stor}'  of  Deucalion  ? 

How  is  Atlas  represented,  and  how  was  he  changed  into  ft 
mountain  ? 

Why  has  Atlas  the  world  on  his  shoulders  ? 

Who  weie  his  daughters  ? 

From  what  do  the  HyaJes  derive  their  name^ 

Whence  are  the  PIeiades"named  ? 

What  is  said  of  Hesperus  ? 


CHAPTER  VI. 

ORPHEUS  AND  AMPHION.     ACHILLES. 

Orpheus  and  Amphion  are  drawn  in  the  same 
manner,  and  almost  in  the  same  colonrs,  because 
they  both  excelled  in  the  same  art,  namely,  in  music; 
in  which  they  were  so  skilful,  that  by  playing  on  tlie 
harp  tliey  moved  not  only  men,  but  beasts,  and  the 
very  stones  tiiemselves. 

Orpheus,  the  son  of  Apollo  by  Calliope  the  Muse, 
with  the  harp  that  he  received  from  his  father,  play- 
ed and  sang  so  sweetly,  that  he  tamed  wild  beasts, 
stayed  the  course  of  rivers,  and  made  whole  v/oods 
follow  him.  He  descended  with  the  same  harp  into 
hell,  to  recover,  from  Pluto  and  Proserpine,  his  wife 
Eurydice,  who  had  been  killed  by  a  serpent,  when 
ghe  fled  from  the  violence  of  Aristseus.     Here  he  so 

•  JVIrA<j5  'E<r«r»)|!'J«v  3«g»«rai,  id  est,  mala  Hesperidum  largjil. 


280 

karmed  both  the  king  and  queen  with  the  sweet- 
ness of  his  music,  that  they  permitted  his  wife  to 
return  to  life  again,  upon  tliis  condition,  that  he 
should  not  look  upon  her  till  they  were  both  ar- 
rived upon  the  earth  :  but  so  impatient  and  eager 
was  the  love  of  Orpheus,  that  he  could  not  perform 
die  condition ;  therefore,  she  was  taken  back  into 
hell  again.  Upon  this,  Orpheus  resolved  for  the 
future  to  live  a  widower  :  and  with  his  example  alien- 
ated the  minds  of  many  others  from  the  love  of 
women.  This  so  provoked  the  Maenades  and  Bac- 
chse,  that  tliey  tore  him  in  pieces  :  though  others  as- 
sign another  reason  of  his  death,  which  is  this  :  the 
women,  by  the  instigation  of  Venus,  were  so  inflam- 
ed with  the  love  of  him,  that,  quarrelling  with  one 
another  who  should  have  him,  they  tore  him  in 
pieces.  His  bones  were  afterward  gathered  by  the 
Muses,  and  reposed  in  a  sepulchre,  not  without  tears; 
and  his  harp  was  made  the  constellation  Lyra. 

Amphion  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  by  Antiope.  He 
received  his  lute  and  harp  from  Mercury ;  and  with 
the  sound  thereof  moved  the  stones  so  regularly, 
that  they  composed  the  walls  of  the  city  of  Thebes. 

"  Dictus  et  Amphion,  Thebanae  conditor  urbis, 

Sasa  movere  sono  testudinis,  et  prece  blanda 

Ducere  quo  vellet."  Hot.  de  Art.  PoeL 

Amphion  too,  as  stoiy  goes,  could  call 
Obedient  stones  to  make  the  Theban  Avail. 
He  led  them  as  he  pleas'd :  the  rocks  obey'd, 
And  danc'd  in  order  to  the  tunes  he  play'd. 

The  occasion  of  which  fable  was  this  :  Orpheus 
and  Amphion  were  both  men  so  eloquent,  that  they 
persuaded  those  who  lived  a  wild  and  savage  life 
before,  to  embrace  the  rules  and  manners  of  civil 
society. 

Arion  is  a  proper  companion  for  these  two  musi- 
cians, for  he  was  a  lyric  poet  of  Methymna,  in  the 
island  of  Lesbos,  and  gained  immense  riches  by  his 


281 

art.  When  he  was  travelling  from  Lesbos  hito  Italy, 
his  companions  assaulted  him  to  rob  him  of  his 
wealth ;  but  he  entreated  the  seamen  to  suffer  him 
to  play  on  his  harp,  before  they  cast  him  into  the 
sea  :  he  plaj'ed  sweetl}^,  and  then  threw  himself  into 
the  sea,  where  a  dolphin,  drawn  thither  by  the  sweet- 
ness of  his  music,  received  him  on  his  back,  and 
carried  him  to  Tenedos. 

"  Ille  sedet,  citharamque  tenet,  pretiumque  vehendi 
Cantat,  et  aequoreas  carmine  mulcet  aquas." — Ov.  Fast.  2 

He  on  his  crouching  back  sits  all  at  ease, 

With  harp  in  hand,  by  which  he  calms  the  seas, 

And  for  his  passage  with  a  song  he  pays. 

The  dolphin  for  this  kindness  was  carried  into 
heaven,  and  made  a  constellation. 

Achilles  was  the  son  of  Peleus  by  Thetis.  His 
mother  plunged  him  in  the  Stygian  waters  when  he 
was  an  infant,  which  made  his  whole  body  ever  af- 
ter invulnerable,  excepting  that  part  of  his  foot  by 
which  he  was  held  when  he  was  washed.  Others 
say,  that  Thetis  hid  him  in  the  night  under  a  fire, 
after  she  had  anointed  him  in  the  day  with  ambro- 
sia ;  whence  at  first  he  was  called  Pyrisous,  because 
he  escaped  safe  from  the  fire ;  and  afterward  Achil- 
les, ^because  he  had  but  one  lip,  for  he  licked  the 
ambrosia  from  his  other  lip,  so  that  the  fire  had 
power  tojburn  it  off.  Others  again  report,  f  that  he  was 
brought  up  by  Chiron  the  Centaur,  and  fed,  instead 
of  milk,  w  ith  the  entrails  of  lions,  and  the  marrow 
of  bears  :  so  that  by  that  means  he  received  immense 
greatness  of  soul,  and  mighty  strength  of  body. 
From  him  those  who  greatly  excelled  in  strength, 
were  called  Achilles,  Jand  an  argument  is  called 
Achilleum,  when  no  objection  can  weaken  or  dis- 
prove it. 

•  Ab  a  priv,  et  a:£'^«j>  labinim ;  quasi  sine  labro. 

t  Apoll  1.  3.  Eurip.  in  Iphig.         ,  , 

t  Cell.  1.2.  c.  11.  * 

24* 


282 

Thetis,  his  mother,  had  heard  from  an  oracle,  that 
he  should  be  killed  in  the  expedition  against  Troy, 
On  the  other  hand,  Calchas,  the  diviner,  had  de- 
clared, that  Troy  could  not  be  taken  without  him. 
By  the  cunning  of  Ulysses  he  was  forced  to  go  :  for 
wlien  his  mother  Thetis  hid  him  in  a  boarding-school 
(in  Gyneca}o)  in  the  island  of  Scycros,  one  of  the 
Cyclades,  in  the  habit  of  a  virgin,  among  the  daugh- 
ters of  king  Lycomedes,  Ulysses  discovered  the 
trick  :  he  went  thither  in  the  disguise  of  a  merchant, 
and  took  with  him  several  goods  to  sell.  The  king's 
daughters,  began  to  view  and  handle  curiously  the 
bracelets,  the  glasses,  and  necklaces,  and  such  like 
women's  ornaments ;  but  Achilles,  on  the  contrary 
laid  hold  of  the  targets,  and  fitted  the  helmets  to  his 
head,  and  brandished  the  swords,  and  placed  them 
to  his  side.  Thus  Ulysses  plainly  discovered  Achil- 
les from  the  virgins,  and  compelled  him  to  go  to 
the  war  ;  after  that  Vulcan,  by  Thetis'  entreaty,  had 
given  him  impenetrable  armour.  Achilles  at  Troy 
killed  Hector,  the  son  of  Priamus  ;  and  was  killed 
himself  by  Paris,  by  a  trick  of  Polyxena  :  and  all 
the  Nymphs  and  Muses  are  said  to  have  lamented 
his  death. 

This  Polyxena  was  the  daughter  of  Priamus,  king 
of  Troy,  a  virgin  of  extraordinary  beauty.  Achilles 
by  chance  saw  her  upon  the  walks  of  the  city,  and 
fell  in  love  with  her,  and  desired  to  marry  her. 
Priamus  consented.  They  met  in  the  temple  of 
Apollo  to  solemnize  the  marriage  ;  where  Paris,  the 
brother  of  Hector,  coming  in  privateh^  and  lurking 
behind  Apollo's  image,  shot  Achilles  suddenly  with 
an  arrow,  in  that  part  of  his  foot  in  which  only  he 
was  vulnerable.  After  this  Troy  was  taken,  and  the 
ghost  of  Achilles  demanded  satisfaction  for  the  mur- 
der, which  the  Grecians  appeased  by  oflering  the 
blood  of  Polyxena. 


qUESTlOJ^S  FOR  EXJiMmJITIOK. 

Who  were  Orpheus  and  Aniphion,  and  in  what  did  they  excel? 

What  is  related  of  Orpheus  ? 

Who  was  Amphioii,  and  wnat  was  the  occasion  of  the  fable? 

Who  was  ArioM,  and  wliat  is  related  of  him  ? 

Who  was  Achilles,  and  wliat  is  reported  of  him  during  liis  in- 
fancy ? 

In  wliat  did  Achilles  excel ;  and  what  is  the  nature  of  the  ar- 
gument named  after  him  ' 

Why  and  how  was  he  forced  into  the  Trojan  war? 

What  hero  did  he  kill,  and  by  whom  was  he  slain  ? 

How  was  he  killed,  and  what  did  the  Grecians  do  to  appease 
his  ghost? 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ULYSSES.    ORION. 

Ulysses  was  so  named,  because  when  Ills  mother 
was  travelling,  as  some  sa}^  in  the  island  of  Ithaca; 
as  others  say,  in  Boeotia,  she  fell  down  on  the  *road, 
and  brought  him  into  the  world.  He  was  the  son  of 
Laertes  and  Anticlea.  His  wife  was  Penelope,  a 
lady  highly  famed  for  her  prudence  and  virtue.  He 
was  unwilling  that  the  Trojan  war  should  part  him 
and  his  dear  wife  ;  therefore,  to  avoid  the  expedition, 
he  pretended  to  be  mad,  joining  the  different  beasts 
to  the  same  plough,  and  sowing  the  furrows  with 
salt.  But  this  pretence  was  detected  by  Palamedes, 
who  laid  his  infant  son  in  the  furrow,  while  Ulysses 
was  ploughing,  to  see  whether  he  would  suffer  the 
plough  share  to  wound  him  or  not.  When  Ulysses 
came  where  his  son  lay,  he  turned  the  plough,  and 
thus  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  not  a  madman, 
and  he  was  compelled  to  go  to  the  war.  There  he 
was  very  serviceable  to  the  Grecians,  and  was  almost 
the  sole  occasion  of  taking  the  town.  He  forced 
Achilles  from  his  retreat,  and  obtained  the  arrows  of 
Hercules  from  Philoctetes,  which  he  brought  against 

•  Graice  'Oova-a-Eyj,  ab  aJaj  via ;  quod  in  ipsa  via  ejus  mater  iter 
faciens  lapsa  ilium  pcperit     Vide  Nat.  Com.  et  Horn,  in  Odysf 


284 

Troy.  He  took  away  the  ashes  of  Laomedoii, 
which  were  preserved  upon  the  gate  Scsea  in  Troy. 
He  stole  the  Palladium  from  the  city ;  killed  Rhoe- 
sus,  king  of  Thrace,  and  took  his  horses,  before  they 
had  tasted  the  water  of  the  river  Xanthus.  In  which 
things  the  destiny  of  Troy  was  wrapped  up  :  for  if 
the  Trojans  had  preserved  them,  the  town  could 
never  have  been  conquered.  He  contended  with 
Ajax  the  son  of  Telamon  and  Hesrone,  who  was  the 
stoutest  of  all  the  Grecians  except  Achilles,  before 
judges,  for  the  arms  of  Achilles.  The  judges  were 
persuaded  by  the  eloquence  of  Ulysses,  gave  sen- 
tence in  his  favour,  and  assigiied  the  arms  to  him. 
This  disappointment  made  Ajax  mad,  upon  which 
he  killed  himself,  and  his  blood  was  turned  into  the 
violet. 

When  Ulysses  departed  from  Troy  to  return 
home,  he  sailed  backward  and  forward  ten  years ; 
for  contrary  winds  and  bad  weather  hindered  him 
from  getting  home.  During  which  time,  1 .  He  put 
ott  the  eye  of  Polyphemus  with  a  firebrand ;  and 
then  sailing  to  jEolia,  he  there  obtained  from  iEolus 
all  the  winds  which  were  contrary  to  him,  and  put 
them  into  leathern  bags.  His  companions,  behev- 
ing  that  the  bags  were  filled  with  money,  and  not 
with  wind,  intended  to  rob  him ;  therefore,  when 
they  came  almost  to  Ithaca,  they  untied  the  bags, 
and  the  winds  gushed  out,  and  blew  him  back  to 
iEolia  again.  2.  When  Circe  had  turned  his  com- 
panions into  beasts,  he  first  fortified  himself  against 
her  charms  with  the  antidote  that  Mercury  had  given 
him,  and  then  ran  into  her  cave  with  his  sword 
drawn,  and  forced  her  to  restore  his  companions  to 
their  former  shapes  again.  After  which  he  and 
Circe  were  reconciled,  and  he  had  by  her  Telego- 
nus.  3.  He  went  down  into  hell  to  know  his  fu- 
ture fortune  from  the  prophet  Tiresias.  4.  When 
he  sailed  to  the  islands  of  the  Sirens,  he  stopped  the 


285 

cars  of  his  companions,  and  bound  himself  with 
strong  ropes  to  the  ship's  mast :  by  these  means  he 
avoided  the  dangerous  snares,  into  which,  by  their 
charming  voices,  they  led  men.  5.  And  lastly, 
after  his  ship  was  broken  and  wrecked  by  the  waves, 
he  escaped  by  swimming ;  and  came  naked  and 
alone  to  the  port  of  Phaeacia,  where  Nausica,  the 
daughter  of  king  Alcinous,  found  him  hidden  among 
the  young  trees,  and  entertained  him  civilly.  When 
his  companions  were  found,  and  the  ship  refitted,  he 
was  sent  asleep  into  Ithaca,  where  Pallas  awaked 
him,  and  advised  him  to  put  on  the  habit  of  a  beg- 
gar. Then  he  went  to  his  neat-herds,  where  he 
found  his  son  Telemachus ;  and  from  them  he  went 
home  in  a  disguise  j  where,  after  he  had  received 
several  affronts  from  the  wooers  of  Penelope,  by  the 
assistance  of  the  neat-herds,  and  his  son,  to  whom 
he  discovered  himself,  he  set  upon  them,  and  killed 
them  every  one ;  and  then  received  his  Penelope. 

Penelope,  the  daughter  of  Icarus,  was  a  rare  and 
perfect  example  of  chastity.  For  though  it  was  ge- 
nerally thought  that  her  husband  Ulysses  was  dead, 
since  he  had  been  absent  from  her  twenty  years,  yet 
neither  the  desires  of  her  parents,  nor  the  solicita-. 
tions  of  her  lovers,  could  prevail  upon  her  to  marry 
another  man,  and  to  violate  the  promises  of  con- 
stancy which  she  gave  to  her  husband  when  he  de- 
parted. And  when  many  noblemen  courted  her, 
and  even  threatened  her  with  ruin  unless  she  declar- 
ed which  of  them  should  marry  her,  she  desired  that 
liie  choice  might  be  deferred  till  she  had  finished  a 
piece  of  needle-work,  about  which  she  was  then 
employed:  but  undoing  by  night  what  she  had 
worked  by  day,  she  delayed  them  till  Ulysses  re- 
turned and  killed  them  all.  Hence  came  the  pro- 
verb,   *"  to  weave  Penelope's  web ;"    that  is,  to 

*  Penelopes  telam  texere'  id  est,  inanem  operam  sumere.  Vid. 
Erasm.  Adag. 


286 

labour  in  vain ;  when  one  hand  destroys  what  the 
other  has  wrought. 

Orion,  when  young,  was  a  constant  companion  of 
Diana :  but  because  his  love  to  the  goddess  exceed- 
ed the  bounds  ot*  modesty,  or  because,  as  some  say, 
he  extolled  the  strength  of  his  own  body,  and  boast- 
ed that  he  could  outrun  and  subdue  the  wildest  and 
fiercest  beasts,  his  arrogance  grievously  displeased 
the  Earth ;  therefore  she  sent  a  scorpion,  which 
killed  him.  He  was  afterward  carried  to  the  liea- 
vens,  aLd  there  made  a  constellation ;  which  is 
thought  to  predict  foul  weather  when  it  does  not  ap- 
pear, and  fair  when  it  is  visible ;  whence  the  poets 
call  him  "^tempestuous,  or  stormy  Orion. 

qUESTIOXS  FOR  EXAMIKATWX, 

From  what  did  Ulysses  derive  his  name  ? 

How  did  he  excuse  himself  from  going  to  the  Trojan  war,  and 
how  was  the  artifice  detected? 

What  exploits  did  he  perform  at  Troy? 

What  was  the  contention  between  him  and  Ajax,  and  what 
was  the  consequence  of  it? 

What  acts  did  he  perform  during  his  return .' 

What  happened  to  him  in  Ithaca? 

What  is  said  of  Penelope,  and  whence  is  the  origin  of  th9 
phrase,  "  To  weave  Penelope's  web  r" 

What  is  said  of  Orion  ? 

What  does  the  constellation  predict? 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OSIRIS,  APIS,  SERAPIS. 

Osiris,   Apis,   and   Serapis,    are  three  diflerent 
names  of  one  and  the  same  god.     Osiris  was  the 

•  Nimbosns  Orion.  Virg.  ]£.n.  nam  epiuv  sis;nificat  turbo  movco^ 
ttnde  etiam  ipse  nomen  sumpsisse  a  nonnullis  judlcatur. 


287 

son  of  Jupiter,  by  Niobe,  the  daughter  of  Phoro- 
neus  ;  and  was  king  of  the  Argives  many  3'ears. 
He  was  stirred  up,  by  the  desire  of  glory,  to  leave 
his  kingdom  to  his  brother  ^Egialus,  and  to  sail 
into  Egypt,  to  seek  a  new  name  and  new  king- 
dojus.  The  Egyptians  were  not  so  much  over- 
come by  his  arms,  as  obliged  to  him  by  his  cour- 
tesies and  kindness.  After  this  he  married  lo,  the 
daughter  of  Inachus,  whom  Jupiter  formerly  turn- 
ed into  a  cow  ;  but,  when  by  her  distraction  she 
was  driven  into  Egypt,  her  former  shape  was 
again  restored,  and  she  married  Osiris,  and  in- 
structed the  Egyptians  in  letters.  Therefore,  both 
she  and  her  husband  attained  to  divine  honours, 
and  were  thought  immortal  by  that  people.  But 
Osiris  showed  tliat  he  was  mortal ;  for  he  was  kill- 
ed by  iiis  brother  Typhon.  lo  (afterward  called 
Isis)  sought  him  a  great  while ;  and  when  she  had 
found  him  at  last  in  a  chest,  she  laid  him  in  a 
monument  in  an  island  near  to  Memphis,  which 
islar.d  ts  encompassed  by  that  sad  and  tatal  lake, 
the  Styx.  And  because  when  she  sought  him  she 
had  used  dogs,  who  by  their  excellent  virtue  of 
smelling  might  discover  where  he  was  hidden, 
thence  the  ancient  custom  came,  that  dogs  went 
first  in  an  anniversary  procession  in  honour  of 
Isisw  And  the  people  carefully  and  religiously 
worshipped  a  god  with  a  dog's  head,  called  Anu- 
bis ;  whicli  god  the  poets  commonly  call  ^Barker, 
'*  a  god  half  a  dog,  a  dog  half  a  man."  He  is  also 
called  Hermanubis  ;  because  his  sagacity  is  so  great 
that  some  think  him  to  be  the  same  with  Mercury, 
But  let  us  return  to  Osiris  and  Isis. 

After  the  body  of  Osiris  was  interred,  there  ap- 
peared to  the  Egyptians  a  stately,  beautiful  ox ; 
the  Egyptians  thought  that  it  was  Osiris,  therefore 

*  Latratorem,  semicanem  Deum,  Virg.  ffin.  8. 


288 

they  worshipped  it,  and  called  it  Apis,  which  in  the 
Egyptian  language  signifies  an  "  ox."  But  be- 
cause the  body,  after  his  death,  was  found  shut  up 
in  a  *chest,  he  was  afterward  from  this  railed  So- 
rapis,  and  by  the  change  of  a  letter  Serapis ;  as  we 
shall  see  more  clearly  and  particularly  by  and  by, 
when  I  have  observed  what  Plutarch  says,  that 
Osiris  was  thought  to  be  the  Sun.  His  name  comes 
from  OS,  which  in  the  Egyptian  language  signifies 
"  much,"  and  im,  an  "  eye  ;"  and  his  image  was  a 
sceptre,  in  which  was  placed  an  eye.  So  that 
Osiris  signifies  the  same  as  ^«Ayo^^£6AjM,o5  [^polyoph- 
thalmos,~\  "  many-eyed,"  which  agrees  very  well  to 
the  Sun,  who  seems  to  have  as  many  eyes  as  he 
has  rays,  by  which  he  sees,  and  makes  all  things 
visible. 

Some  say  that  Isis  is  Pallas,  others  Terra,  others 
Ceres,  and  many  the  Moon ;  for  she  is  painted 
sometimes  horned,  as  the  moon  appears  in  the  in- 
crease, and  wears  black  garments  ;  because  the 
moon  shines  in  the  night.  In  the  right  hand  she 
held  a  cymbal,  and  in  her  left  a  bucket.  Her  head 
was  crowned  with  the  feathers  of  a  vulture;  for 
among  the  Egyptians  that  bird  is  sacred  to  Juno  ; 
and  therefore  they  adorned  the  tops  of  their  porches 
with  the  feathers  of  a  vulture.  The  priests  of  Isis, 
called  after  her  own  name  Isiaci,  abstained  from  the 
flesh  of  swine  and  sheep,  and  they  used  no  salt  to 
their  meat.  They  shaved  their  heads,  they  wore 
paper  shoes,  and  a  linen  vest,  because  Isis  first 
taught  the  use  of  flax  ;  and  hence  she  is  called 
Linigera,  and  also  Inachis,  from  Inachus,  her 
father.  By  the  name  of  Isis,  is  usually  under- 
stood "  wisdom  :"  and  accordingly,  upon  the 
pavement  of  the  t«mple,  there  was  this  inscription  : 


*  r#^  significat  arcam,  in  qua  inventum  est  illiuB  torpus  itr 


2S9 

*"  I  am  every  thing  that  hath  been,  and  is,  and 
shall  be  ;  nor  hath  any  mortal  opened  my  veil." 

By  the  means  of  this  Isis,  f  Ipliis,  a  yoimg  vir- 
gin of  Crete,  the  daughter  of  Lygdus  and  Tele- 
thusa,  was  changed  into  a  man.  For  when  Lygdus 
went  a  journey,  he  enjoined  his  wife,  who  was  then 
pregnant,  if  she  brought  a  daughter,  that  she  should 
not  educate  her,  but  leave  her  exposed  in  the  fields 
to  perish  by  want.  Telethusa  brought  forth  a 
daughter,  but  was  very  unwilling  to  lose  her  child  J 
therefore  she  dressed  it  in  a  boy's  habit,  and  called 
it  Iphis,  which  is  a  connnon  name  to  boys  and  girls. 
The  father  returned  from  his  journey,  and  believed 
both  his  wife  and  his  daughter,  who  personated  a 
son :  and  as  soon  as  she  was  marriageable,  her  fa- 
ther, who  still  thouglit  that  she  was  a  man,  married 
her  to  the  beautiful  lanthe.  As  they  went  to  the 
temple  to  celebrate  the  marriage,  the  mother  was 
much  concerned,  and  begged  the  favourable  assist- 
ance of  Isis,  who  heard  her  pra^^ers,  and  changed 
Iphis  into  a  most  beautiful  young  man.  Now  let  us 
come  to  Serapis  and  Apis  again. 

Though  Serapis  was  the  god  of  the  Egyptians, 
yet  he  was  worshipped  in  Greece,  Jespecially  at 
Athen«,  and  also  at  Rome.  Among  the  diiferent 
nations  he  had  different  names  :  for  he  was  called 
sometimes  Jupiter  Ammon,  sometimes  Pluto,  Bac- 
chus, iEsculapius,  and  sometimes  Osiris.  His  name 
w^as  reckoned  a])ominable  by  the  Grecians ;  for  all 
names  of  seven  letters,  eTfruypay.u.ccrci  [heptagram^ 
mata]  are  by  them  esteemed  infamous.  Some  say 
that  Ptolemy,  the  son  of  Lagus,  procured  the  effi 
gies  of  him  at  Pontus,  from  the  king  of  Sinope,  and 

*  'Eyw  iiui  wav  cfl  ytycv);  koli  ov,  xctt  ttrifA.ivov  xai  to  ificv  zrtfrXt$ 
vtus  ruv  ^vTiruv  uTiKocXv-.^iv.  Ego  sum  quicquid  fuit  est  erit  J  nec 
meum  quisquam  motalium  peplum  retexit.     Plut  in  Iside. 

t  Ovid.  Met.  9. 

$  Pausan.  in  Attic. 

25 


290 

dedicated  a  magnificent  temple  to  him  at  Alexan* 
dria.  Eusebius  calls  him  the  "Prince  of  evil  de- 
mons :"  a  flasket  was  placed  upon  his  head  and  near 
him  lay  a  creature  with  tinee  heads  ;  a  dog's  on  the 
right  side,  a  wolf's  on  the  left,  and  a  lion's  head  in 
the  middle :  a  snake  with  his  fold  encompassed 
them,  whosj  head  hung  down  upon  the  god's  right 
hand,  with  which  he  bridled  the  terrible  monster. 

Apis  was  king  of  the  Argivi,  and  being  trans- 
ported thence  into  Egypt,  he  became  Serapis,  or 
the  greatest  of  all  the  gods  of  Egypt.  After  the 
death  of  Serapis,  the  ox  that  we  mentioned  a  little 
before,  succeeded  in  his  place.  *Piiny  describes 
the  form  and  quality  of  this  ox,  thus :  An  ox,  in 
Egypt,  is  worshipped  as  a  god:  they  call  him  Apis. 
He  is  thus  marked :  there  is  a  white  shining  spot 
upon  his  right  side,  horns  like  the  moon  in  its  in- 
crease, and  a  nose  under  its  tongue,  which  they  call 
cantharus.  His  body,  says  Herodotus,  was  all 
black :  in  his  forehead  he  had  a  v/hite  square 
shining  figure  ;  the  c.Tigles  of  an  eagle  in  his  back  j 
and  beside  the  cantharus  in  his  mouth,  he  had  hair 
of  two  sorts  in  his  tail.  But  Pliny  goes  on  :  if  he 
lives  beyond  an  appointed  period  of  time,  they 
drown  him  in  the  priests'  fountain ;  then  the  priests 
shave  their  heads,  mourn  and  lament,  and  seek 
another  to  substitute  in  his  room.  When  they  have 
found  one,  he  is  brought  by  the  priests  to  Memphis. 
He  hath  two  chapels  or  chambers,  which  are  the 
oracles  of  the  people ;  in  one  of  them  he  foreteU 
good,  in  the  ether  evil. 

qUESTIOJVS  FOR  EXAMINATION 

What  was  Osiris ;  whom  did  he  marry;  and  what  is  told  oi 
his  wife  ? 

What  was  lo  afterwards  cr.lled,  and  why  did  dogs  go  first  la 
the  procession  devoted  to  her  ? 

•Plin.  Hist.Nat.l.  8.  C.40. 


291 

Who  was  Anubis? 

What  was  Apis ;  why  was  the  name  Osiris  changed  to  Sei^ 
pis;  and  what  does  Osiris  signify  ? 

Who  was  Isis  ;  what  is  said  of  her ;  and  what  is  signified  by 
the  name  ? 

How  was  Iphis  changed  into  a  man,  and  what  was  the  cause 
of  this  metamorphosis  ? 

Under  what  name  has  Serapis  been  v/orshipped  ? 

How  is  he  denominated  by  Eusebius ;  and  what  symboli  art 
connected  with  him 

Who  was  Apis ;  and  how  is  he  described  ty  Pliny  f 


APPENDIX. 


OF  THE  VIRTUES  AND  VICES  WHICH 
HAVE  BEEN  DEIFIED. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  VIRTUES  AND  GOOD  DEITIES 

The  ancients  not  only  worshipped  the  several 
species  of  virtues,  but  also  Virtue  herself,  as  a  god- 
dess.    Therefore,  first  of  her,  and  then  of  the  others. 

Virtue  derives  her  name  from  vir,  because  virtue 
IS  the  most  manly  ornament.  She  was  esteemed  a 
goddess,  and  worshipped  in  the  habii  of  an  elderly 
matron,  sitting  upon  a  square  stone.  "^M.  Marcel- 
lus  dedicated  a  temple  to  her ;  and  hard  by  placed 
another,  tliat  was  dedicated  to  Honour  :  the  temple 
of  Virtue  was  the  passage  to  the  temple  of  Honour ; 
hence  by  virtue  alone  true  honour  is  attained.  The 
priests  sacrificed  to  honour  with  bare  heads,  and  we 
usually  uncover  our  heads  when  we  see  honourable 
and  worthy  men  ;  and  since  honour  itself  is  valua- 
ble and  estimable,  it  is  no  wonder  if  such  respect  is 
shown  in  celebrating  its  sacrifices. 

Fides  had  a  temple  at  Rome,  near  the  capitol, 
which  fNuma  Pompilius,  it  is  said,  first  consecrated 
to  her.  JHer  sacrifices  were  performed  without 
slaughter   or  blood.     The  heads  and  hands  of  the 

*  Liv.  1.  2. 

t  Cic.  de  Officiis. 

j  Dion.  Halicarn.  1.  2. 


293 

priests  were  covered  with  a  white  cloth  when  they 
sacrificed,  because  faith  ought  to  be  close  and  se- 
cret. Virgil  calls  her  *Cana  Fides,  either  from  the 
candour  of  the  mind,  whence  fidelity  proceeds,  or 
because  faith  is  chiefly  observed  by  aged  persons. 
The  symbol  of  this  goddess  was  a  white  dog,  which 
is  a  faithfid  creature,  f  Another  symbol  was  two 
hands  joined,  or  two  young  ladies  shaking  hands  : 
for  Jby  giving  the  right  hand,  they  engaged  their 
faith  for  their  future  friendship. 

Hope  had  a  temple  at  Rome,  in  the  herb-market, 
which  was  unfortunately  burnt  down  with  lightning. 
"^Giraldus  says,  that  he  has  seen  her  effigies  in  a 
golden  coin  of  the  emperor  Adrian.  She  was  de- 
scribed in  the  form  of  a  woman  standing ;  her  left 
hand  lightly  held  up  the  skirts  of  her  garments  ;  she 
leaned  on  her  elbow ;  and  in  her  right  hand  held  a 
plate,  on  which  she  was  placed  a  ciberium,  a  sort  of 
a  cup  fashioned  to  the  likeness  of  a  flower,  with  this 
inscription :  SPES,  P.  R.  "  The  Hope  of  the 
people  of  Rome."  We  have  already  related  in 
wdiat  manner  Hope  was  left  and  preserved  in  the 
bottom  of  Pandora's  box. 

Justice  was  described  like  a  virgin,  with  a  pierc- 
ing, steadfast  eye,  a  severe  brow,  her  aspect  awful, 
noble,  and  venerable.  Alexander  says,  that  among 
the  Egyptians  she  had  no  head,  and  that  her  left 
hand  was  stretched  forth,  and  open.  The  Greeks 
called  her  Astraea. 

Attihus,  the  duumvir,  dedicated  a  chapel  to  Piety, 
at  Rome,  in  the  place  where  that  woman  lived,  who 
fed  her  mother  in  prison  with  the  milk  of  her  breasts. 
The  story  is  thus ;  ||the  motlier  was  punished  with 

•  Serv.  in  1.  et  8.  JEn. 
t  Stat.  Theb.  1. 

X  Dextra  data  iidem  futurae  amicitiae  sancibant.    Liv.  1.  21. 
§  Svntaffm.  1.  1. 
f]  Piin-  Hist.  Nat.  1  7  c.  36. 
25* 


294 

imprisonment ;  her  daughter,  who  was  an  ordin*  y 
\voman,  then  gave  suck;  she  came  to  the  prii.m 
frequently,  mid  the  gaoler  always  searched  her,  to 
see  that  she  carried  no  food  to  her  mother :  at  last 
she  was  found  giving  suck  to  her  mother  with  her 
breasts.  This  extraordinary  piety  of  the  daughter 
gained  the  mother's  freedom ;  and  they  both  were 
afterwards  maintained  at  the  public  charge  ;  and 
the  place  was  consecrated  to  the  goddess  Piety. 
There  is  a  like  example  in  the  ^Grecian  history,  of 
a  woman,  who  by  her  breasts  nourished  Cymon, 
her  aged  father,  who  was  imprisoned,  and  supported 
him  with  her  own  milk. 

The  Athenians  erected  an  altar  to  Misericordia, 
"  Mercy  ;"  f  where  was  first  established  an  Asylum, 
a  place  of  common  refuge  to  the  miserable  and  un- 
Ibrtunate.  It  was  not  lawful  to  force  any  from 
thence.  When  Hercules  died,  Jhis  kindred  feared 
some  mischief  from  those  whom  he  had  afflicted ; 
therefore,  they  erected  an  asylum,  or  temple  of  mer- 
cy, at  Athens. 

Nothing  memorable  occurs  concerning  the  god 
dess    Clemency,    unless    that   there  was   a   temple 
erected  to  Clementia  Caesaris,  "  The  Clemency  ot  - 
Caesar,"  as  we  read  in  §Plutarch. 

Two  temples  at  Rome  were  dedicated  to  Chastity; 
the  one  to  Pudicitia  Patricia,  which  stood  in  the  ox- 
market  ;  the  other  to  Pudicitia  Plebeia,  built  by 
Virginia,  the  daughter  of  Aulus  :  for  when  she,  who 
was  born  of  a  patrician  family,  ||had  married  a 
plebeian,  the  noble  ladies  were  mightily  incensed, 
and  banished  her  from  their  sacrifices,  and  would 
not  suffer  her  to  enter  into  the  temple  of  Pudicitia  i 


•♦  Val.  Mas.  1.  13. 
t  Paiisan.  in  Attic. 
i  Serv.  in  JEn.  8. 

In  Vita  Caesaris. 

Liv.  I.  10. 


295 

int^  which  senatorial!  families  only  were  permitted 
entrance.  A  quarrel  arose  upon  this  among  the 
women,  and  a  great  breach  was  made  between  them. 
This  induced  Virginia,  by  some  extraordinary  ac- 
tion, to  blot  out  the  disgrace  she  had  received;  and 
therefore,  she  built  a  chapel  in  the  long  street  where 
she  lived,  and  adorned  it  with  an  altar,  to  which  she 
invited  the  plebeian  matrons ;  and  complaining  to 
them  that  the  ladies  of  quality  had  used  her  so  bar- 
barously ;  "  I  dedicate,"  says  she,  "  this  altar  to 
Pudicitia  Plebeia  ;  and  1  desire  of  you  that  you  will 
as  much  adore  Chastity,  as  the  men  do  Honour ; 
that  this  altar  may  be  followed  by  purer  and  more 
chaste  votaries  than  the  altar  of  Pudicitia  Patricia, 
if  it  be  possible."  It  is  said  in  history,  that  the 
women,  who  were  contented  at  one  marriage,  were 
usually  rewarded  with  a  *crown  of  chastity. 

Truth,  the  mother  of  Virtue,  fis  painted  in  gar- 
ments as  white  as  snow ;  her  looks  are  serene,  plea- 
sant, courteous,  cheerful,  and  yet  modest ;  she  is  the 
pledge  of  all  honesty,  the  bulwark  of  honour,  the 
light  and  joy  of  human  society.  |She  is  commonly 
accounted  the  daughter  of  Time  or  Saturn ;  be- 
cause truth  is  discovered  in  the  course  of  time :  but 
Democritus  feigns  that  she  lies  hidden  in  the  bottom 
of  a  well. 

Good  Sense,  or  Understanding,  [men^,]  was  made 
a  goddess  by  the  Romans,  §that  they  might  obtain 
a  sound  mind.  ||An  altar  was  built  to  her  in  the 
capitol,  by  M.  JEmilius.  ITThe  praetor  Attiliiis 
vowed  to  build  a  chapel  to  her ;  which  he  perform 
ed  when  he  was  created  duumvir. 


•  Corona  pudicitiae.    Val.  Max.  1.  2. 
f  Philost.  in  Heric.  et  Amp. 
t  Pint,  in  Quffist. 

Aug.  de  Civ.  Dei.  2. 

Cic.  Nat.  Deor.  2. 

Liv.  22  et  23. 


296 

We  shall  find  by  *the  concurrent  testimony  of 
many,  that  the  goddess  Concordia  had  many  altars 
at  several  times  dedicated  to  her ;  but  she  was  es- 
Apecially  worshipped  by  the  ancient  Romans.  Her 
image  held  a  bowl  in  her  right  hand,  and  a  horn  of 
plenty,  or  a  sceptre  from  which  fruit  seemed  to 
sprout  forth,  in  her  left,  f  The  symbol  of  concord 
was  two  right  hands  joined  together,  and  a  pome- 
gi-anate. 

Pax  was  honoured  formerly  at  Athens  with  an 
altar,  Jas  Plutarch  tells  us.  At  Rome  she  had  a 
most  magnificent  temple  in  the  Forum,  begun  by 
Claudius,  and  finished  by  Vespasian ;  <5>^vhich  w?.s 
afterwards  consumed  by  fire  under  emperor  Corn- 
modus.  She  was  described  in  the  tbrm  of  a  matron, 
holding  forth  ears  of  corn  in  her  hands,  and  crowned 
with  olives  and  laurel,  or  sometimes  roses.  Her 
particular  symbol  was  a  caduceus,  a  white  staff 
borne  by  ambassadors  when  they  go  to  treat  of 
peace. 

The  goddess  Salus  was  so  much  honoured  by  the 
Romans,  that  anciently  several  holy  days  were  ap- 
pointed in  which  they  worshipped  her.  There  was 
a  gate  at  Rome  called  Porta  Salutaris,  because  it 
was  near  to  the  temple  of  Salus.  Her  image  was 
the  figure  of  a  woman  sitting  on  a  throne,  and  hold- 
ing a  bowl  in  her  right  hand.  Hard  by  stood  her 
altar,  a  snake  twining  round  it,  and  lifting  up  his 
head  toward  it.  The  Augurium  Salutis  was  for- 
merly celebrated  in  the  same  place.  It  was  a  kind 
of  divination,  by  which  they  begged  leave  of  the 
gods  that  the  people  might  pray  for  peace. 

Fidelity,  ||says  St.  Augustine,  had  her  temple  and 

•  Liv.  I.  9.  Plut.  in  C.  Gracch.  Suet,  in  Tib. 
t  Lil.  Gyr.  synt.  1.  1. 
X  Plut.  in  Cimon. 

Herodot.  1.  2. 

De  Civ.  Dei.  4. 


PIXSJ^. 


SJlLIJ^ 


297 

altar,  and  sacrifices  were  performed  to  her.  They 
represented  her  like  a  venerable  matron  sitting  upon 
a  throne,  holding  a  white  rod  in  her  right  hand,  and 
a  great  horn  of  plenty  in  her  left. 

As  the  Romans  were,  above  all  things,  careful  of 
their  liberty,  especially  after  the  expulsion  of  the 
kings,  when  they  set  themselves  at  liberty,  so  they 
built  a  temple  to  Liberty,  among  the  number  ol 
their  other  goddesses. 

The  Romans  invoked  Pecunia  as  a  goddess,  that 
they  might  be  rich.  They  worshipped  the  god 
^sculanus,  the  father  of  Argentinus,  that  they 
might  have  plenty  of  brass  and  silver  :  and  esteem- 
ed jEsculanus,  the  father  of  Argentinus,  because 
brass  money  was  used  before  silver.  "  I  wonder," 
*says  St.  Augustine,  "  that  Aurinus  was  not  made  a 
god  after  Argentinus,  because  silver  money  was  fol- 
Gwed  by  gold."  To  this  goddess.  Money,  O  how 
many  apply  their  devotions  to  this  day  !  what  vow  s 
do  they  make,  and  at  what  altars  do  they  impor- 
tune, that  they  may  fill  their  coflers  !  "If  they  have 
those  gods,"  says  f  Menander,  "  gold  and  silver  at 
home,  ask  whatever  you  please,  you  shall  hav^ 
it,  the  very  gods  themselves  will  be  at  your  ser- 
vice." 

Lycurgus  ridiculously  erected  an  image  among 
the  JLacedaemonians,  to  the  god  Risus.  The  Thes- 
salonians,  of  the  city  of  Hypata,  every  year  sacri- 
ficed to  this  god  with  great  jollity. 

The  god  Bonus  Genius  had  a  temple  in  the  way 
that  leads  to  the  mountain  Meenalus,  as  says  Pau- 
sanius.  At  the  end  of  the  supper  they  ofiered  a  cup 
to  him,  filled  with  wine  and  water ;  which  was  call- 

*  Miror  autem  quod  Argentinus  non  genuit  Aurinum,  quia  et 
aurea  pecunia  subsecuta  est,  De  Civ.  Dei.  1.  4. 

t  Hos  Deos  Aurum  et  Argentum,  si  domi  habeas,  quicquid 
voles,  roga,  tibi  omnia  aderunt,  ipsos  babebls,  vel  mioistranted 
Peos.  Ap.  Strob.  or.  de  laude  auri. 

X  Plut.  in  Lycurgo 


2^3 

cd  "  the  grace  cup."     Some  say  the  cup  had  more 
water  than  wine  ;  others  say  the  contrary. 

QUESTIOjYS  for  EXAMWATIOK, 

From  what  does  the  goddess  Virtue  derive  her  name  > 

To  what  does  the  temple  of  Virtue  lead  ? 

In  what  way  did  the  priests  sacrifice  to  Honour? 

Where  was  the  temple  of  Fides,  and  how  are  her  sachficet 
^rformed  ? 

What  were  the  usual  symbols  of  Fides  ? 

How  is  Hope  described,  and  where  was  her  temple  ? 

How  was  Hope  preserved  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  ? 

How  is  justice  described  ? 

Where  was  there  a  chapel  dedicated  to  Piety,  and  what  wai 
the  cause  of  it  ? 

Wha«.  temples  were  dedicated  to  Chastity? 

How  is  Truth  painted  ;  whose  daughter  is  she;  and  why? 

Why  w^as  wens  mado  a  goddess  ? 

How   is   Concordia  described,  and  by  what   symbol  is  she 
known  ? 

Where  w-as  Pax  honoured,  how  is  she  described,  and  what  fcs 
her  peculiar  symbol? 

What  is  said  of  the  goddess  Salus  ? 

How  is  Fidelity  represented? 

What  is  said  of  Liberty? 

Why  did  the  Romans  invoke  Pecunia  as  a  goddess  ? 
*     What  w'as  the  saying  of  Menander  ? 

Who  sacrificed  to  Risus  r 

Where  was  there  a  temple  dedicated  to  Bonus  GeniuS)  find 
what  was  offered  to  this  god  ? 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  VICES  AND  EVIL  DEITIES. 

1  CALL  those  Evil  Deities  which  oppose  our  hap- 
piness, and  many  times  do  us  mischief.  And  first, 
of  the  Vices  to  which  temples  have  been  conse* 
crated. 

That  Envy  is  a  goddess,  appears  by  the  con- 
fession of  Pallas,  who  owned  that  she  was  assisted 
by  her,  to  infect  a  young  lady,  called  Aglauros, 
with  her  poison.     Ovid  describes  the  house  where 


299 

she  dwells  in  very  elegant  verse,  and  afterward  givw 
a  most  beautiful  description  of  Envy  herself. 

**Protinus  Invidiae  nigro  squallentia  labo 

Tecta  petit,     Domus  est  imis  in  vallibus  antri 

Abdita,  sole  carens,  nee  uili  pervia  vento; 

Tristis,  et  igiiavi  plenissinia  frigoris  ;  et  (]uae 

Igne  vacet  semper  caligine  semper  abundet."  Met,  2. 

Then  strait  to  Envy's  cell  she  bends  her  way, 

Wlilch  all  with  putrid  gore  infected  lay. 

Deep  in  a  gloomy  cave's  obscure  recess, 

No  beams  could  e'er  that  horrid  mansion  bless; 

No  breeze  e'er  fann'd  it,  but  about  it  roU'd 

Eternal  woes,  and  ever  lazy  cold  ; 

No  spark  shone  there,  but  everlasting  gloom, 

Impenetrably  dark,  obscur'd  the  room. 

"Pallor  in  ore  sedet;  macies  in  corpore  toto; 
Nusquam  recta  acies;  livent  rubigine  dentes; 
Pectora  felle  virent ;  lingua  est  sutfnsa  veneno; 
Risus  abest,  nisi  quem  visi  movere  doiores. 
Nee  fruitur  somno,  vigilantibus  excita  cnris; 
Sed  videt  ingratos,  intabescitque  videndo, 
Successus  hominum  :  carpitque,  et  carpitur  ana; 
Suppliciuraque  suum  est."  Mel*  & 

A  deadly  paleness  in  her  cheeks  are  seen  ; 
Her  meager  skeleton  scarce  cas'd  with  skin; 
Her  looks  awry;  an  everlasting  scowl 
Sits  on  her  brows  ;  her  teeth  deform'd  and  foul ; 
Her  breast  had  gall  more  than  her  breast  could  hold ; 
Beneath  her  tongue  black  coats  of  poison  roU'd ; 
No  smiles  e'er  smooth'd  her  furrow'd  brows,  but  those 
Which  rise  from  common  mischiefs,  plagues,  and  woes: 
Her  eyes,  mere  strangers  to  the  sweets  of  sleep, 
Devouring  spite  for  ever  waking  keep  ; 
She  sees  blest  men  with  vast  successes  crown'd, 
Their  joys  distract  her,  and  their  glories  wound: 
She  kills  abroad,  herself's  consum'd  at  home, 
And  her  own  crimes  are  her  perpetual  martvrdom. 
\ 

The  vices  Contumely  and  Impudence,  were  both 
adored  as  deities  by  the  Athenians  :  and  particular- 
ly, it  is  said,  they  were  represented  by  a  partridge ; 
which  is  esteemed  a  very  impudent  bird. 

The  Athenians  erected  an  altar  to  Calumny. 
Apelles  painted  her  thus :   There  sits  a  imiu  with 


300 

great  open  ears,  inviting  Calumny,  with  his  hand 
held  out,  to  come  to  him  ;  and  two  women,  Igno- 
rance and  Suspicion,  stand  near  him.  Calumny 
breaks  out  in  a  fury  ;  her  countenance  is  comely  and 
beautiful,  her  eyes  sparkle  like  fire,  and  her  face  is 
inflamed  with  anger ;  she  holds  a  lighted  torch  in 
her  left  hand,  and  with  her  right  twists  a  young 
man's  neck,  who  holds  up  his  hands  in  praj^er  to  the 
gods.  Before  her  goes  Envy,  on  her  side  are  Fraud 
and  Conspiracy;  behind  her  follows  Repentance^ 
clad  in  mourning  and  her  clothes  torn,  with  her 
head  turned  backward,  as  if  she  looked  for  Truth, 
who  comes  slowly  after. 

Fraud  was  described  with  a  human  face,  and  with 
a  serpent's  body :  in  the  end  of  her  tail  was  a  scor- 
pion's sting  :  she  swims  through  the  river  Cocytus, 
and  nothing  appears  above  water  but  her  head. 

Pretronius  Arbiter,  where  he  treats  of  the  civil 
war  between  Pompey  and  Csesar,  has  given  a  beau- 
tiful description  of  the  goddess  Discordia. 

Intremuere  tubae,  ac  scisso  Discordia  crine 
Extulit  ad  superos  Stygium  caput.     Hujus  in  ore 
Concretus  sanguis,  comesaque  luraina  flebant  J 
Stabant  terata  rubigiue  denies, 
Tabo  lingua  fluens,  obsessa  draconibus  ora: 
Atque  inter  loto  laceratam  pectore  vcstem, 
Sanguineam  tremula  quatiebat  lampada  dextra  '* 

The  trumpets  sound,  and  with  a  dismal  yell 
Wild  Discord  rises  from  the  vale  of  hell 
From  her  swell'd  eyes  there  ran  a  briny  flood, 
And  clotted  gore  upon  her  visage  stood; 
Around  her  head  serpentine  elf-locks  hung, 
And  streams  of  blood  flow'd  from  her  sable  tongwe* 
Her  tatterd  clothes  her  yellow  skin  betray 
(An  emblem  of  the  breast  on  which  they  lay  ;) 
And  brandish'd  flames  her  trembling  hand  obey. 

Fury  is  described  sometimes  chained,  sometimes 
raging  and  revelling  with  her  chains  broke :  but 
Virgil  cliooses  to  describe  her  bound  in  chains. 


301 

—         "  Furor  impius  intus 

Saeva  sedens  super  arma,  et  centum  vinctus  ahenis 
Post  tergum  nodis,  fremit  horridus  ore  cruento  "    ^n.  1 

■Within  sits  impious  war 


On  cursed  arms,  bound  with  a  thousand  chains, 
And,  horrid  wi.h  a  bloody  mouth  complains. 

Petronius  describes  her  at  liberty,  unbound. 

Furor  abruptis,  ceu  liber,  habenis 


Sanguineuni  late  tollit  caput;  oraque  mille 
Vulneribus  confossa  cruenta  casside  velat. 
Haeret  detritus  laevse  Mavortius  umbo 
Innumerabilibus  telis  gravis,  atque  flagranti 
Stipite  dextra  minax  terris  incendia  portat  " 

Disorder'd  Rage,  from  brazen  fetters  freed, 
Ascends  to  earth  with  an  impetuous  speed  : 
Her  wounded  face  a  bloody  helmet  hides, 
And  her  left  arm  a  batter'd  target  guides ; 
Red  brands  of  fire  supported  in  her  right, 
The  impious  world  with  flames  and  ruin  fright. 

*Paiisanias  and  fPlutarch  say,  that  there  were 
temples  dedicated  to  Fame.  She  is  thus  finely  and 
delicately  described  by  Virgil. 

*'  Fama,  malum  quo  non  aliud  velocius  ullum, 

Mobilitate  viget,  viresque  acquirit  eundo  ; 

Parva  metu  primo  ;  mox  sese  attollit  in  auras, 

Ingrediturque    solo,  et  caput  inter  nubila  condiL 

Illam  terra  parens  ira  irritata  Deorura, 

Extremam  (ut  perhibent)  Cceo  Enceladoque  sororem 

Progenuit ;  pedibus  celerem  et  pernicibus  alis: 

Monstrum  horrendum,  ingens ;  cui  quot  sunt  corpore  plumn* 

Tot  vigiles  oculi  subter  (mirabile  dictu) 

Tot  linguae,  totidem  ora  sonant,  tot  subrigit  aures. 

Nocte  volat  cceli  medio  terrsque  per  umbram 

Stridens,  nee  dulci  declinat  luminasomno. 

Luce  sedet  custos,  aut  summi  culmlne  tecti, 

Turribus  aut  altis  ;  et  magnas  territat  urbes  : 

Tam  ficti  pravique  tenax,  quam  nuncia  veri."          JEn*  ^ 

Fame,  the  great  ill,  from  small  beginning  grows, 
Swift  from  the  first,  and  every  moment  brings 

♦  Pansan.  in  Atti.  t  Plut  in  Camilla. 

26 


302 

New  vigour  to  her  fligl  ts,  new  pinions  to  her  wings< 

Soon  grows  the  pigmy  to  gigantic  size, 

Her  feet  c     earth,  her  foreljead  in  the  skies 

Enrag'd  against  tho  gods,  revongeful  Earth 

Produc'd  he)  last  v/,'  the  1'itanian  birth. 

Swift  is  her  walk,  more  swift  her  winged  haste, 

A  monstrous  phantom,  horrible  and  vast: 

As  many  plumes  as  raise  her  lofty  flight, 

So  many  piercing  eyes  enlarge  her  sight; 

Millions  of  op'ning  mouths  to  Fame  belong, 

And  ev'ry  mouth  is  furnish'd  with  a  tongue  ; 

And  round  with  list'ning  ears  the  flying  plague  is  hung. 

She  fills  the  peaceful  universe  with  cries ; 

No  slumbers  ever  close  her  wakeful  eyes  ; 

By  day  from  lofty  tow'rs  her  head  she  shows, 

And  spreads  through  trembling  crowds  disastrous  news. 

With  court-informers'  haunts,  and  royal  spies, 

Things  done  relates,  not  done  she  feign-s,  and  mingles  truth 

w^ith  lies : 
Talk  is  her  business,  and  her  chief  delight 
To  tell  of  prodigies;  and  cause  affright. 

Why  was  Fortune  made  a  goddess,  says  *St.  Au- 
gustine, since  she  comes  to  the  good  and  bad  with- 
out any  judgment  ?  She  is  so  bHnd,  that  without 
distinction  she  runs  to  any  body  ;  and  many  times 
she  passes  by  those  that  admire  her,  and  sticks  to 
those  that  despise  her.  So  that  Juvenal  had  reason 
to  speak  in  the  manner  he  does  of  her. 

"  Nullum  numen  abest  si  sit  prudentla;  sed  te 

Nos  facimus,  Fortuna,  Deam,  cceloque  locamUs."  Sat.  20. 

Fo4'tnne  is  never  worshipp'd  by  the  wise  ; 
But  she,  by  fools  set  up,  usurps  the  skies. 

Y"et  the  temples  that  have  been  consecrated  to 
her,  and  the  names  that  she  has  had,  are  innumera- 
ble :  the  chief  of  them  I  will  point  out  to  you. 

She  was  styled  Aurea,  or  Regia  Fortuna,  and 
an  image  of  her  so  called  was  usually  kept  in  the 
emperor's  chamber ;  and  when  one  died,  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  palace  of  his  successor. 

*  Aug.  de  Civ.  Dei.  1. 


m 


'^i)  'j.r 


...II.: 


Ttyitstmi. 


303 

She  Is  also  called  Caeca,  ^'  blind."  Neither  is 
she  only,  says  ^Cicero,  blind  herself,  but  she  many 
times  makes  those  blind  ihat  enjoy  her. 

She  was  called  Muliebris,  because  the  mother 
and  the  wife  of  Coriolanus  saved  the  city  of  Rome. 
And  when  his  image  was  consecrated  in  their  pre- 
sence, f  it  spoke  these  words  twice  :  "  Ladies  you 
have  dedicated  to  me  as  you  should  do." 

Servius  Tullus  dedicated  a  temple  to  Fortuna 
Obsequens,  because  she  obeys  the  wishes  of  men. 
The  same  prince  worshipped  her,  and  built  her 
chapels ;  where  she  was  called  Prin^^^eri  a,  Jbe- 
cause  both  the  city  and  the  empire  ---^  -d  their 
origin  from  her ;  also  Privata  or  ^Propria,  because 
she  had  a  chapel  in  the  court,  which  that  prince 
used  so  familiarly,  that  she  was  thought  to  go  down 
through  a  little  window  into  his  house. 

Lastly,  sh€  was  called  Viscata,  Viscosa,  because 
we  are  caught  by  her,  as  birds  are  with  birdlime ;  in 
which  sense  Seneca  says,  *'  kindnesses  are  birdlime." 

Febris,  Fever,  had  her  altars  and  temples  in  the 
palace.  She  was  worshipped  that  she  should  not 
hurt :  and  for  the  same  reason  they  worshipped  all 
the  other  gods  and  goddesses  of  this  kind. 

Fear  and  Paleness  were  supposed  to  be  gods,  and 
worshipped  by  Tullus  Hostihus;  ||when  in  the  bat- 
tle between  the  Romans  and  the  Vejentes  it  was  told 
him  that  the  Albans  had  revolted,  and  the  Romans 
grew  afraid  and  pale,  for  in  this  doubtful  conjecture, 
he  vowed  a  temple  to  Pallor  and  Pavor. 

The  people  of  Gadara  made  Poverty  and  Art 
goddesses ;  because  the  first  whets  the  wit  for  the 
discovery  of  the  other. 

*  Dei  Amicitia. 

t  Rite  me,  Matronae,  dedicatis.    Auff.  de  Civ.  Dej.  4.  Val 
Max.  1.  2. 
t  Plutarch. 

Ibid. 

Liv.  1  1. 


304 

Necessity  and  Violence  had  their  chapel  upon  the 
Acro-Corinthus  :  but  it  was  a  crime  to  enter  into  it. 

M.  Marcellus  dedicated  a  chapel  to  Tempestas, 
without  the  gate  of  Capena,  after  he  had  escaped  a 
severe  tempest  in  a  voyage  to  the  island  cf  Sicily. 

Both  the  Romans  and  Egyptians  worshipped  the 
gods  and  goddesses  of  Silence.  The  Latins  parti- 
cularly worshipped  Ageronia  and  Tacita,  whose 
image,  they  say,  stood  upon  the  altar  of  the  god- 
dess Volupia,  with  its  mouth  tied  up  and  sealed  ; 
^because  they  who  endure  their  cares  with  silence 
and  patience,  do  by  that  means  procure  to  them- 
selves the  greatest  pleasure. 

The  Egyptians  worshipped  Harpocrates,  as  the 
*•  god  of  Silence,*'  f  after  the  death  of  Osiris.  He 
was  the  son  of  Isis.  They  offered  the  first  fruits  of 
the  lentils  and  pulse  to  him.  They  consecrated  the 
tree  persea  to  him ;  because  the  leaves  of  it  were 
shaped  like  a  tongue,  and  the  fruit  like  a  heart.. 
He  was  painted  naked  in  the  figure  of  a  boy,  crown- 
ed with  an  Egyptian  mitre,  which  ended  at  the 
points  as  it  were  in  two  buds ;  he  held  in  his  left 
hand  a  horn  of  plenty,  while  a  finger  of  his  right 
hand  was  upon  his  lip,  thereby  commanding  silence. 
And  therefore  I  say  no  more ;  neither  can  I  bettei 
be  silent,  than  when  a  god  commands  me  to  be  so 

qUESTIOKS  FOR  EXAMINATION. 

How  are  the  evil  deities  described  ? 

How  is  it  ascertained  ?  he. 

Wliora  did  the  Athenians  adore  a,s  deities? 

HoAV  is  Calumny  painted  by  Apelles  ? 

How  was  Fraud  described  ? 

Repeat  the  lines  descriptive  of  Discord. 

How  is  Fury  described  by  Virgil  ? 

What  are  the  lines  by  Fetronius  ? 

Give  me  Virgil's  fine  description  of  Fame  ? 

*  Quod,  qui  suos  angores  (unde  Angeronia  dicta  est)  seqoo 
animo  ferunt,  perveniunt  ad  maximam  voluptatem. 
f  Epiph.  3.  contra  Haeresc! 


II  M......  .1.1 


HiLUFDOiMrj^^ 


305 

How  is  Fortune  described  ? 

What  does  Juvenal  say  of  her  ? 

How  is  she  described  by  Cicero  ? 

What  did  Servius  Tullus  do  with  respect  to  Fortune  ? 

Wliy  was  Fortune  called  Viscosa,  and  what  was  Seneca^ 
phrase  ? 

Why  was  Febris  worshipped  ? 

By  whom  were  Fear  and  Paleness  worshipped  ? 

VVhy,  and  by  whom  were  Poverty  and  Art  deified  ? 

What  is  said  of  Necessity  and  Violence  ?  ^ 

Who  dedicated  a  temple  to  Tempestas ;  and  why  did  he  00 
so? 

Who  worshipped  the  gods  and  goddesses  of  Silence? 

Whom  did  the  Latins  worship,  and  why  ? 

Whom  did  the  Egyptians  worship  ? 

How  is  Harpocrates  painted  ? 


THE  END 


26« 


INDEX. 


Absyrtus,  torn  in  pieces  by  Me- 
dea 259 
Achelous,  turns  himself  into  a 
serpent,  then  into  a  bull,  in 
which  shape  be  is  conquered 
by  Hercules  255 
Acheron,  one   of  the  infernal 
rivers  209 
Achilles,  history  of  281 
Acidalia,  one  of  the  names  of 
Venus               ^  102 
Action,  turned  into  a  deer  by 
Diana,  and  torn  in  pieces  by 
his  own  dogs  176 
Adonis,  killed  by  a  boar^  and 
by   Venus    turned   into   the 
flower  anemone  111 
Adrastaea,  the  same  with   Ne- 
mesis, one  of  the  goddesses 
of  justice  166 
Adsc'riptitii    Dii,    gods   of   the 
lower  rank                  21—249 
^acus,  judge  of  hell             221 
iEcastor,  an  oath  OTily  used  by 
women,  as  Hercle  was  used 
by  men                               265 
jEdepol,  an  oath  used  by  both 
sexes                                    265 
TEgeon,  account  of               223 
iEgis,  Jupiter's  shield  26 
Aello,  one  of  the  Hai-]iies    230 
^obis,   god  of  winds,  descrip- 
tion of                                 136 

,  great  skill  of  137 

iE!?culapius,  description  of  270 

^son,the  father  of  Jason,  when 

very  old,  restored  to  youth 

by  Medea  259 

JEta,  father  of  Medea,  and  king 

of  Colchis  259 

Africans,  gods  of  the  18 

Agamemnon,  history  of        266 


Aglaia,  one  of  the  graces     111 

Ajax,    kills    himself,    and   his 

blood  turned  into  a  violet 

284 

Alcides,  one  of  the  names  of 

Hercules,  see  Hercules     251 

Alecto,  one  of  the  Furies     218 

Alectryon,  why  and  how  pun-  . 

ished  80 

Alpheus,  story  of  188 

Amazons,  female  v^^arriors,  ac- 
count of  261 
Ambarvalia,  description  of   157 
Ambrosia,  festivals  in  honour 
of  Bacchus  71 
Amica,  a  name  of  Venus      101 
Amphion,  from  whom  he  re- 
ceived his  harp                  280 
Amphytrite,  wife  of  Neptune 
196 
Andromeda,  delivered  by  Per- 
seus from  a  sea-monster   268 
Angerona,  the  goddess  that  re- 
moved anguish  of  mind    246 
Anteus,  a  giant  overcome  by 

Hercules,  see  Hercules 

Antiope,  28 

Anubis,    a   god   with   a   dog's 

head,  history  of  287 

Aonides,  the  Muses  so  called 

162 

Apaturia,  a  title  of  Venus    103 

Apis,  king  of  the  Argivi        290 

Apollo,  description  of,  and  how 

painted,  39 

,  what  devoted  to        40 

Apollos,  the  four  ib. 

Apollo,  actions  of  41 

,  names  of  45 

,  signification  of  the  fa- 
ble of  50 
,  things  sacrificed  to    50 


INDEX. 


Arachne,  turned  into  a  spider 
by  Minerva  96 
Areopagus,  for  what  used      75 
,  judges  of  their  du- 
ties                                       ib. 
Arethusa,  for  what  celebrated 
188 
ArgonautEe,    Jason's    compan- 
ions that  w^ent  with  him  to 
fetch  the  g-olden  fleece     259 
Argus,  description  of              86 
Ariadne,    daughter   of    Minos 
260 
Arion,  history  of                   280 
Aristffius,  history  of              174 
Armata,  a  title  of  Venus       101 
4scolia,  games  in    honour   of 
Bacchus  71 
Astraja,  description  of           165 
/Italanta  and  Hippomenes,  sto- 
ry of                                   106 
Atlas                                         276 
Atropos,  one  of  the  Fates    218 
Atys,  hi'story  of                     147 
Avernus,  a  lake  on  the  borders 
of  hell                                 208 
Augaeas,  his  stable  containing 
three  thousand  oxen,  cleans- 
ed in  one   day  by  Hercules 
253 
Aurora,  birth  and  description 
of                                       115 


B 


Baal,  a  name  of  Jupiter         30 
Babylon,  Avails  of  54 

Babylonians,  gods  of  the  18 
Bacchanalia,  when  celebrated 
72 
Bacchae,  the  priestesses  of  Bac- 
chus 68 
Bacchus,  description  of         64 

,  birth  of  ib. 

• ,  names  of  65 

,  sacrifices  of,  when  ce- 
lebrated 70 

. ,  actions  of  63 

,  fables  of  73 

Battus,  turned  by  Mercury  into 

an  index  62 

Belides,  fifty  daughters  of  Da- 


naus,  who  killed  their  hus- 
bands on  the  wedding  night 
226 

,  punishment  of  in  hell 

ib 

Bellerophon,  history  of        269 

's  letters,    meaning 

of  ib. 

Bellica,  a  pillar  before  the  tem- 
ple of  Bellona  78 

Bellona,  description  of  77 

Belus,  king  of  Assyria,  the  first 
to  whom  an  idol  was  set  up 
and  w^orshipped  17 

Berecinthia,  a  title  of  Cybele, 
see  Cybele 

Biblis,  falls  in  love  with  her 
brother  Caunus  57 

,  pines  away  with  grief, 

dies,  and  is  turned  into  a 
fountain  67 

Bona  Dea,  a  title  of  Cybele 
144 

Briareus,  one  of  the  giants  that 
warred  against  heaven     224 

Busiris,  a  tyrant  that  offered 
human  sacrifices  to  his  father 
Neptune  264 


Cabh-i,  priests  of  Cybele      149 

Cacus,  son  of  Vulcan  134 

Cadmus,  banished,  and  builds 
the  city  of  Thebes  29 

,  invents  the  Greek  let- 
ters :  SOW' s  the  teeth  of  a  dra- 
gon in  the  ground  whence 
armed  men  sprung  up        29 

Caduceus,  Mercury'.s  wand  de- 
scribed 61 

Caeculus,  a  robber,  Vulcan's 
son     135,        Caenis          198 

Caprotina,  &ic.  names  of  Juno 
88 

Calisto,  turned  into  a  bear,  and 
made  a  constellation  28 

Calliope,  one  of  the  muses  160 

Calumny,  how  painted  by  Apel- 
les  300 

Camillus,  a  name  of  Mercury, 
see  Mercury 


INDEX. 


Canopus,  god  of  the  Egj-ptians 
201 

Cantharus,  the  name  of  Sile- 
nus' jug  172 

Casitolinus,  a  title  of  Jupiter 
30 

Castalides,  the  Muses  so  called 
162 

Castor  and  Pollux,  accompani- 
ed Jason  to  Colchis,         264 

Celeno,  one  of  the  harpies  230 

Centaurs,  overcome  by  The- 
seus 261 

Cephalns  and  Tithonus  how 
carried  to  heaven  116 

Cerberus,  description  of      210 

Ceres,  description  and  history 

of  150 

,  inventions  of  151 

,  why  called  the  foundress 

of  laws  152 

Cham,  to  which  of  the  heathen 


gods  likened 
Charon,  how  represented 
,  office  of 


125 

208 
209 
205 
231 


Charybdis,  description  of 
Chymara,  description  of 
Chiron,  a  centaur,  account  of 
270 
Circe,  character  of  56 
,  a  famous  sorceress,  ban- 
ished for  poisoning  her  hus- 
band                                     ib. 

,  falls  in  love  with  Glau- 

cus,  and  turns  Scylla  into  a 

sea-monster  204 

eiio,  one  of  the  Muses         160 

Clotho,  one  of  the  fates        217 

Clowns  of  Lycia,  turned  into 

frogs  115 

Clytem nostra,  history  of      265 

Cocytus,  description  of        210 

Ccelum,  wife  and  children  of 

119 

Colossus  of  Rhodes,  one  of  the 

seven  wonders  of  the  world 

described  53 

Concordia,   temples  dedicated 

to  296 

Corybantcs,  whence  the  name 

of  derived  149 

Cupid,  character  of  109 


Curetcs,  signification  of       148 
Cybele,  reason  of  lier  different 

names  143 
,  names  of  the  priests  of, 

rites  observed  in  sacrificing 

to  14S 

Cyclops,  servants  of  Vulcan  134 
Cyllenius,  a  title  of  Mercury, 

see  Mercury 
Cynthius,  a  title  of  Apollo,  see 

Apollo 
Cyparissus,  a  beautiful  youth 

turned  into  a  cypress-tree  43 
Cypria,  Cypris,  Cythersa,  &c. 

names  of  Venus,  see  Venus 
Cyrus,  palace  of  54 

D. 

Daedalus,  character  and  descrip- 
tion of  66 
Dana?,  27 
Danaides,  story  of  227 
Daphne, turned  intoalaurel  43 
Deianira,  wife  of  Hercules,  oc- 
casion of  his  death  256 
Delius,     Delphicus,    titles     of 

Apollo,  see  Apollo 
Delos,  origin  of  113 

Deluge,  account  of  the        275 
Deucalion,  history  of  ib. 

Diana,  description  and  history 
of  176 

,  names  of  177 

,  temple  of  53 

Diespiter,  a  name  of  Jupiter  31 

Diomedes,  a  tyrant  of  Thrace, 

subdued   by   Hercules,    and 

given  as  food  to  his  horses 

253 

Dira?,  a  name  of  the  Furies  218 

Dodoneus,aname  of  Jupiter  31 

Dreams,  bv  what  ways  convey* 

edto  men,  220,  Dryades    186 

E. 

Echo,  description  of  189 

Elysium,  description  of  233 

Envy,  description  of  3 

Erato,  one  of  the  Muses,  160 

Erisichthon,  story  of  164 


INDEX. 


Euryale,one  of  the  gorgons  230 
Euterpe,  one  of  the  Muses  101 
Endymioa  ITS 

Eleusian  mysteries  154 

F. 

Fates,  Iiow  represented  217 
Fauns,  description  of  the  173 
Febris,  why  worshipped  303 
Feronia,  the  goddess  of  the 
woods,  why  so  named  184 
Fides,  reverence  paid  to,  and 
symbols  of  292 

Fleece,  golden  account  of   258 
Flora,    how    painted   and    de- 
scribed 183 
Floralia,  w^hen  celebrated     ib. 
Fortune,  how  represented  and 
described                             302 
Fraud,  description  of           300 
Frogs,  why  doomed  to  live  in 
water                                  115 
Furies,  description  of           218 


Gallantes,    from   whence    the 

term  derived  148 

Galli,  from  whence  the  name 

of  derived  ib. 

Genii  240 

,  history  of  ib. 

,  to  whom  assigned       241 

Ger)'on,  story  of  229 

Giants,     from     what    derived, 

character  of,  battles  of     222 

Glaucopis,  a  name  of  Minerva, 

see  Minerva 
Glaucus,  how  transformed  to  a 
sea-god  201 

Gods,  false  origin  of  17 

,  of  the  Romans,  divided 

into  six  classes  20 

,  celestial,  enumerated   24 

,  terrestrial,  most  celebrat- 
ed of,  named  and  described 
118 

,  inferior  rural  191 

,  of  the  woods  171 

,  and  goddess,  nuptial    243 

•-; — ,  sylvan,     for    what   mis- 
chievous 244 


Gods,   presiding  over  infants, 

,  a  particular  one,  assigned 

to  each  part  of  the  body  247 

,  funeral  ib. 

Golden  Age,  described         120 
Golden  Fleece,  described    258 
Gorgons,   number  and   names 
of  230 

Graces,  description  of  110 

Gradivus,  a  title  of  Mars,  see 

Mars 
Grasshopper,  curious  property 
of  116 

Greek  Letters,  by  whom  in- 
vented 29 

H. 

Hades,  a  name  of  Flute,  see 
Pluto 

Halcyone,  a  daughter  of  Atlas 
277 

Harpies,  from  whom  born,  de- 
scription of  229 

Hebe,  the  goddess  of  youth, 
her  birth ;  made  cup  bearer 
to  Jupiter  5  but  for  an  un- 
lucky fall  is  turned  out  of 
her  office  85 

Hecate,  whence  the  name  of 
derived  178 

Helena,  the  most  beautiful  vir- 
gin in  the  world,  runs  aw-ay 
with  Paris,  after  his  death 
marries  his  brother  Deipho- 
bus,  and  then  betrays  him  to 
Menelaus  li37 

Helicon,  the  Muse^'  mount  162 

He'.lconides  or  Heliconiades, 
the  Muses  so  called  ib. 

Hell,  description  of  207 

,  rivers  of  209 

, judges  of  221 

,  monsters  of  208 

Helle,  drowned  in  that  sea 
which  from  her  is  since  call 
ed  the  Hellespont  258 

Hellespontiacus,  a  title  of  Pria 
pus,  see  Priapus 

Hercules,  actions  of,  to  whom 
ascribed  250 


INDEX. 


Hercules,  iiifant  strength  of  251 

,  labours  of  252 

by  Avhom  overcome 
256 
Herman,  statues  of  Mercur>'  set 
up  for  the  direction  of  travel- 
lers 62 
Hermaphroditus  and  Salmacis, 
made  into  one  person,  called 
a  hermaphrodite  61 
Hermathena^,      images      used 
among  the  Romans             63 
Herraes,  a  name  of  Mercury  ib. 
Hermione,  the  daughter  of  Me- 
nelaus,  promised  to  Orestes, 
but  married  to  Phyrrus    265 
Heroes,  whence  the  name  de- 
rived                                  249 
Hesper  or  Hesperugo,the  even- 
ing-star                             278 
Hesperides,  the  three  daughters 
of  Hesperus,  in  whose  garden 
were  golden  apples,  guarded 
by  a  dragon,  which  Hercules 
kills,    and   takes    away   the 
fruit                                    278 
Hesperus,  the  brother  of  Atlas, 
turned  into  a  star               ib. 
Hippius     and     Hippodromus, 
names  of  Neptune,  see  Nep- 
tune 
Hippocampi,  the  horses  of  Nep- 
tune's chariot                     196 
Hippocrene,  the  Muses'  foun- 
tain                                    162 
Hippolyte,  queen  of  the  Ama- 
zons, married  to  Theseus  ib. 
Hippolytus,  the  son  of  Theseus, 
his  exemplary   chastity;    is 
killed  by  a  fall  from  his  cha- 
riot, and  restored  to  life  by 
jEsculapius                          ib. 
Hippona,  a  goddess  presiding 
over  horses  and  stables     191 
Honour,  why  sacrificed  to  292 
Hope,  how  described           293 
Horae  or  Hours,  their  late    de- 
scent and  offices                  52 
Hortensis,  a  title  of  Venus  102 
Horus,  a  name  of  the  Sun      52 
Hostilina,  a  goddess  of  corn 
192 


Hyacinthus,  killed  by  Apollo, 

with  a  (juoit  42 

Hyades,  signification  of  277 
Hydra,    a  monstrous    serpent, 

killed  by  Hercules  252 

Hygigea  or  Sanitas,  a  daughter 

of  ^sculapius,  see  j$iscula 

pius 


Jani,  a  place  at  Rome  where 
usurers  met  127 
Janitor,  a  title  of  Janus  128 
Janus,  description  of  127 
,  name  of,  whence  de- 
rived                                128 

,  what  sacrifices  oflFered 

to  him  130 

,  founder  of  temples  and 

religious  duties  ib, 

,  temple  of,  when  shut  ib. 

,  story  of  ib. 

Japhet,  to  whom  likened      125 

Jason,  the  history  of  258 

Icarus,  flies  with  artificial  wings, 

but  the  sun  melts  them,  so 

that  he  falls  into  the  sea,  and 

is  drowned  57 

Idoei  Dactyl  i,  origin  of         149 

Idalia,  a  name  of  Venus,  see 

Venus 
Idolatry,  causes  of  15 

Ignis,  a  god  of  the  Chaldeans 
fights  with  the  Egyptian  god 
Canopus,  and  is  vanquished 
201 
Imperator,  a  name  of  Jupiter  32 
Impudence,  by  what  represent- 
ed 299 
Incubus  and  Inuus,  names  of 
Pan  168 
lo,  Jupiter's  intrigue  with  her, 
and   by  him   turned   into  a 
cow ;    after  her  death  wor- 
shipped   by   the  Egyptians, 
and  called  Isis  85 
lolaus,    assists    Hiercules,    for 
which,  when  become  old,  he 
is  restored  to  youth  again  253 
Iphiclus,  twin  brother  to  Her- 
cules, see  Hercules 
Iris                                        84 


J^DEX. 


fudges  of  hell,  their  names  and 

characters  221 

Juno,  description  of  83 

—,  childrefi  of  85 

— — ,  character  of  ib. 
Jupiter,  description  of  24 
,how  dressed  and  adorn- 
ed by  different  nations  ib. 
's  descent,   and   educa- 


tion of  26 
,  exploits  and  actions  of 


,  names  30 

Justice,  how  described        293 
Ixion,  punishment  of  225 

L. 

Labyrinth,  Theseus  delivered 
from  261 

Lachcsis,  one  of  the  Fates  217 

Lacinia,  a  title  of  Juno,  see 
Juno 

Lactura  or  Lactucina,  a  god- 
dess of  corn  192 

Laomedon,kingof  Troy,breaks 
the  promise  he  had  made, 
for  which  Hercules  destroys 
Troy  255 

Lapides  Terminates,  why  es- 
teemed sacred  175 

Lapis  or  Lapideus,  a  title  of 
Jupiter  32 

Lares,  account  of  the  238 

,  feasts  dedicated  to     ib. 

-,  wliere  worshipped  239 

Latona,  history  of,  reception  of, 
at  Delos  112 

,  effects  of  the  ange-r  of 

114 

Learchus,  killed  by  his  father 
Athamas  200 

Leda  28 

Lenseus,  a  name  of  Bacchus, 
see  Bacchus 

Lethe,  river  of  hell,  description 
ot  234 

Levana,  a  tutelar  goddess  to 
new-born  infants  245 

Leucothe,  buried  alive  for  her 
incontinence,  and  turned  in- 
to a  tree  bearing  frankin- 
cense 44 


Liber  and  Liber  Pater,  names 
of  Bacchus,  see  Bacchus 

Libitina,  the  goddess  of  fune- 
rals; also  a  nam-e  for  the 
grave  itself  247 

Libitinarii,  officers  thct  buried 
the  dead  ib. 

Lucetius,  a  title  of  Jupiter    33 

Lucina,  a  name  of  Juno,  sec 
Juno 

Luna,  why  Diana  was  called 
by  this  name,  see  Diana 

Lupercalia,  festivals  in  honour 
of  Pan  168 

Luperci,  the  priests  of  Pan  168 

Lycaon,  king  of  Arcacia,  turn- 
ed into  a  wolf  for  his  mon- 
strous impiety  27 

Lyceus,  a  name  of  Pan,  see  Pan 

Lycian  clowns,  turned  into 
frogs  by  Latona  115 

Lycurcus,  to  whom  erected  an 
image  297 

Lybians,  gods  of  the  18 

M. 

Mars,  description  of  76 
,  what  things  consecrated 


to 


76 
77 
78 
80 
82 
81 
82 


,  wife  of 

,  names  of 

,  chief  actions  of 

,  sacrifices  of 

,  son  of 

,  ancient  rites  of 

Marsyas,  challenges  Apollo  in 
music,  is  overcome  by  him 
and  turned  into  a  river      44 
Matura,  a  goddess  of  corn   192 
Mausolus'  tomb,  one  of  tlie  se- 
ven wonders  of  the  world  53 
Medea,  story  of  259 

Medusa,  one  of  tlie  gorgons  230 

,  description  of  268 

Meleager,  his  adventure?  181 
Melicerta,  made  a  sea-god  201 
I\Iel!ona,  the  goddess  of  honey 
192 
Melpomene,  one  of  the  Muses 
161 
Memnon,  story  of  116 


INDEX. 


Memnon,  statue  of,  described 

Mentha,  turned  inic  a  mint  216 
Mercury,  description  of         58 

• ,  parents  of  ib. 

,  olRcesof  ib. 

,  qualities  of  59 

,  actions  of  ^l 

,  statues      of,      when 

erected  62 

,  sacrifices  to,by  whom 

ottered  63 

Mercy,  an  altar  erected  to  294 

Metra,    Mestra,     Mestre,    the 

daughter  of  Erischthon,  who 

could  transform  herself  into 

any  shape  198 

Midas,  treatment  of  by  Apollo 

44 

,  asses'  ears  of  45 

Migonitis,  a  lUle  of  Venus,  see 

Venus 
Milky-way,  origin  of  251 

Minerva,  description  of         91 

,  why  armed  ib. 

,  thingb  sacred  to  her 

92 

's     contention      with 

Neptune  ib. 

,  statue  of  ib. 

,  birth  of  ib. 

,  names  of  93 

,   signification  of  the. 

fable  of  98 

Minos,  judge  of  hell  221 

,  king  of  Crete  260 

,  his  conduct  towards  the 

Athenians  ib. 
Minotaur,  described  56 
,  overcome  by  The- 
seus 260 
Mithra,  a  name  of  the  Sun  5^ 
Momus,  name  of,  whence  iJe- 
rived        ^                           138 

,  business  of  ib. 

,  judgment  of  ib. 

,  parents  of  1.39 

Morpheus,  the  servant  of  Som- 

nus,  he  brings  to  the  people 

their  dreams  221 

Mors,  the  goddess  of  deatli  220 

Moses,  to  whom  compared    73 


Mulciber  or  Mulcifer,  a  name 
of  Vulcan,  see  Vulcan 

Muscarius,  a  tith:  of  Jupiter  .33 

Muses,  the  description  of  the 
159 

,  of  what  the  mistresses 

and  presidents  ib. 

,  how  painted  160 

,  names  of  the  ib. 

,  names  of,  common  to 

all  162 

,  why  three,  and  after- 
wards nine  163 

Myrmidones,  from  what  deriv- 
ed 221 

N 

Naiades  or  Naides,  priestcssRs 

of  Bacchus,  nymphs  of  the 

fountains  187 

Napa^ffl,  nymphs  of  the  groves 

and  vallies  187 

Narcissus,  falls  in  love  with  his 

ovsn  image  190 
,    pines    away  and   is 

turned  into  a  daffodil         ib 
Nema^an  Lion,  killed  by  Her- 
cules, see  Hercules 
Nemesis,  history  of  166 

Neptune,  king  of  the  waters, 

description  of  194 
,  how  preserved  from 

Saturn  194 

,  to  whom  married  195 

,  president  of  the  horse 

races  ib. 
,    governor   of  ships, 

&c.  196 

,  children  of  197 

Nereides,  origin  of  the  name  of 
200 
Nereus,  for  what  famous  ib. 
Nicephorus,  a  title  of  Jupiter  33 
Nimrod,  to  whom  compared  73 
Ninus,  account  of  17 

Niobe,  story  of  1 13 

Noah,  in  what  respects  similar 

to  Saturn  124 

Nodosus  or  Nodotus,  a  god  of 

corn.  192 

Nox,  from  whom  derived,  and 

how  represented  220 


INDEX. 


Nundina,  a  tutelar  goddess  to 
infants  245 

Nyctilius,  a  name  of  Bacchus, 
see  Bacchus 

Nymphs,  descnption  of,  office 
of  186 


Oceanus,   sea-god,  description 
of  200 

Ocypete,  one  of  the  Harpies  230 
Oedipus,  history  of  232 

Opigena,  a  title  of  Juno, see  Juno 
Opitulus  or  Opitulator,  a  name 
of  Jupiter  34 

Ops,  a  name  of  Cybele  143 
Orestes,  kill?  his  mother  Cly- 
temnestra,  and  her  gallant 
^gisthus,  also  Phyrrus,  for 
marrying  his  sweetheart  Her- 
mione  265 

Orgia,  feasts  of  Bacchus  72 

Orion,  companion  of  Diana  286 
Orpheus,  his  parentage,  and 
amazing  skill  in  music  ;  he 
overcomes  the  Sirens ;  ob- 
tains Eurydice,  his  Avife,frora 
hell,  but  loses  her  again  ;  re- 
solves never  more  to  marry, 
for  which  he  is  torn  in  pieces ; 
his  harp  made  a  constellation; 
the  meaning  of  this  fable  279 
Osiris,  king  of  the  Argives,  quits 
his  kingdom  and  trax^els  into 
Egj^it,  where  he  marries  lo; 
killed  by  his  brotherTyphon; 
the  same  with  Apis  and  Sera- 
pis,  and  also  thought  to  be 
the  Sun  286 


Pactolus,  a  river  whose  sand  is 
gold  69 

Paean,  a  name  of  Apollo         46 
Palsemon,  one  of  the  sea-gods 
200 
Pales,  the  goddess  of  shepherds 
182 
Palladium,  an  image  of  Miner- 
va that  fell  from  heaven     94 
Pallas,  the  same  with  Minerva 
98 


Palilian  feasts,  when  and  how 
observed  183 

Pan,  history  of  167 

Pandora,  the  first  woman  fash- 
ioned by  Vulcan;  her  box, 
and  the  mischiefs  that  came 
from  it  on  mankind  134 

Pantheon,  description  of        15 
Paphia,  name  of  Venus         103 
ParcEc,  why  so  called,  names 
and  offices  of  217 

Paris,  his  descent  and  birth ; 
determines  who  is  the  fairest 
of  Juno,  Minerva,  and  Ve- 
nus; runs  away  with  Helena, 
who  was  betrothed  to  Men©- 
laus,  which  occasions  the  war 
between  the  Greeks  and  Tro- 
jans, in  which  Paris  is  killed 
by  Philoctetes  107 

Parnassides,  the  Muses  so  call- 
ed 162 
Parthenos  or  Parthenia,  a  title 
of  Juno  90 ;  and  of  Minerva 
95 
Pasiphae,    falls    in   love    with 
Taurus,   and  brings  forth  a 
Minotaur ;    the    meaning  of 
this  fable  56 
Pax,  honours  paid  to            296 
Pecunia,  why  prayed  to       297 
Pegasus,  the  Muses'  horse,  his 
birth     and    description  ;     is 
caught   and   rode    upon    by 
Bellerophon,  and  afterwards 
placed  in  heaven  among  the 
stars                                      269 
Penates,  enumerated  and   de- 
scribed                               236 
Penelope                                 2S5 
Periclymenus,   one  that  could 
transform   himself   into   any 
shape,     and    was   killed    by 
Hercules  when  in  the  shape 
of  a  fly                                 198 
Perseus,  son  of  Jupiter,  story 
of                                        267 
Persians,  gods  of  the               18 
Phaeton,  the  son  of  Sol,  obtains 
leave  to  drive  the  chariot  of 
the  Sun  for  one  day ;  over- 
throws it,  by  which  the  hea- 


INDEX. 


ven  and  the  earth  are  set  on 
fire,  and  he  is  by  Jupiter 
struck  with  thunder  into  the 
river  Po ;  his  sisters  turned 
into  poplars  ;  the  meaning  of 
this  fable  55 

Philomela,  story  of  81 

Phlegethoii  or  Puriphlegethon, 
one  of  the  infernal  rivers,  the 
streams  of  which  are  fire  210 
Phlegyas,  in  what  manner,  and 
why  punished  225 

Phorcus  or  Phorcys,  a  son  of 
Keptune  197 

Pierides  or  Pieriae,  the  Muses 
so  called  162 

Piety,  description  and  illustra- 
tion of  293 
Pilumnus,  a  rural  god  192 
Pistor,  a  naiiie  of  Jupiter  34 
Pleiades,  names  of               277 

,  from  what  the  name 

rived  ib. 

Pluto,  description  of,  names  of, 

over  what  he  presides,  why 

blind  211 

Podalirius,  a  famous  physician 

272 

Polyhymnia,  one  of  the  muses 

161 

Polyphemus  135 

Pclyxena,  at  her  marriage  with 

Achilles    causes    him    lo  be 

killed,    and  is  sacrificed    to 

appease  his  ghost  282 

Pomona,  the  goddess  of  fruit  184 

Porthmeus  or  Portitor,  a  name 

of  Charon  208 

Prsedator,   a  name  of  Jupiter, 

see  Jupiter 
Priapus,  description  of         174 
Procris,  married  to  Cephalus, 
and   killed    accidentally  bv 
him  116 

Progne,  story  of  81 

Prometheus,  makes  a  man  of 
clay,  and  animates  him  with 
fire  stolen  from  heaven  ;  pun- 
ished by  Jupiter  for  his  theft, 
freed  from  his  punishment  by 
Hercules ;  the  meaning  of 
this  fable  273 


Proserpine,  a  goddess  of  corn  ; 

her  descent,  and  how  carried 

away  by  Pluto  •  is  soiight  for 

by  her  mother  Ceres,  who 

obtains    from    Jupiter    that 

Proserpine     should     be    six 

months  with  Pluto,  and  the 

other  six  wdth  her  in  heaven 

216 

Proteus,  description  of         197 

Pygmalion,  history  of  104 

Pyramids  of  Egypt,  one  of  the 

seven  wonders  of  the  w^orld 

54 

Pyraraus  and  Thisbe,  account 

of  104 

Pythius,  a  name  of  Apollo     47 

Pytho,  a  daughter  of  Atlas  277 

Python,  killed  by  Apollo       47 


Q. 


Quietus,  a  name  of  Pluto,  see 

Pluto 
Quirinus,  a  title  of  Jupiter     34 
■,   a  title  of  Mars,  see 


Mars. 


R. 


Rationes  Libitinae,  an  account 

of  the  dead,  not  unlike  our 

Bills  of  Mortality  247 

Rhadamanthus,  judge  of  hell 

221 

Rhea,  a  name  of  Cybele       143 

Rhodes,  Colossus  of  53 

Riddle,   proposed   by    Sphynx 

231 

Robigus,  a  god  of  corn,  whose 

festivals  are  called  Robigalia 

192 

Roman  people,  ranks  of        19 

gods,  how  divided     20 

,  over  what  presid- 
ed ib. 
Runcina,  the  goddess  of  weed- 
ina:                                      191 


Salii,  priests  of  Mars,  see  Mars 
Salisubsulus,  a  title  of  Mars  ib. 


INDEX. 


Salmoneus,  why^and  how  pun- 
ished 226 
Salus,  how  honoured  301 
Saturn,  representation  and  his- 
tory of  118 

,  names  and  sacrifices  of 

121 

,  feasts  of  122 

,  to  whom  of  the  antedi- 
luvians compared  123 
Saturnalia,  festivals  in  honour 
of  Saturn                             122 
Satyrs,  of  whom  the  compan- 
ions, and  description  of  the 
173 
Scylla,  the  daughter  of  Nisus, 
ruins  her  country,  by  cutting 
off  her  father's  purple  lock  of 
hair,   and   is   turned  into  a 
lark                                     204 
Scylla  and  Charybdis,  fables  of 
205 
Seia  or  Segetia,  a  goddess  of 
corn                                    191 
Semele,  beloved  by   Jupiter; 
through  her  own  ambition  is 
destroyed  64 
Semi-Dei,  described             249 
Serapis,  the  name  of  derived 
288 
Shem,  who  supposed  to  repre- 
sent                                  125 
Silence,  why  worshipped    304 
Silenus,  story  of                   171 
Silvanus,  description  of         ib. 
Sirens,  their  description  ;  over- 
come by  Orpheus,  and  turn- 
ed into  stones ;  the  explana- 
tion of  this  fable               202 
Sisyphus,  a  famous  robber  226 
Sol,  a  name  of  Apollo  45 

,  a  name  of  the  Sun  52 

Somnus,  description  of        220 
Sospita,  atitle  of  Juno,  see  Juno 
Soter  or  Sovator,  a  title  of  Ju- 
piter 35 
Sphynx,by  whom  begotten  231 
Stellk),  a  saucy  boy  turned  into 
an  evet  by  Ceres              154 
Sterculius,  Stercutius,  Stercutus 
or  Sterquilinius,  a  rural  god 
192 


Stheno,  one  of  the  gorgons  230 
Stli;«nobcea,  endeavours  to  en- 
tice Bellerophon,  but  is  re- 
jected,   and    therefore    kills 
herself,  see  Bellerophon 
Stymphalides,   birds  that  feed 
on  human  flesh,  destroyed  by 
Hercules  253 
Styx,  description  of              210 
Sun,  why  named  Sol  52 
,  how  named  by  other  na- 
tions                                    ib. 

,  children  of  55 

Syrens,  story  of,  fee.  202 

Syrinx,   a   nymph  courted  by 

Pan,  but  flies  from  him,  and 

is  turned   into  a  bundle  of 

reeds  169 

T. 

Tantalus,  wickedness  and  pun- 
ishment of  227 
Telchines,  an  account  of  the  149 
Tereus,  marries  Progne,  falls  in 
love  with   her  sister  Philo- 
mela, cuts   out  her  tongue, 
she  informs   Progne  of  this 
villany  by  needlework,  and 
to  revenge  themselves  they 
kill  and  dress  Itys,  whom  his 
father   Tereus  feeds   on  for 
supper,    Progne   becomes  a 
sparrow,  Philomela  a  night- 
ingale, Tereus  a  hoopoe,  and 
Itys  a  pheasant  81 
Tergemina,  a  title  of  Diana  176 
Terminus,  of  what  the  god  175 
Terpsichore,  one  of  the  Muses 
161 
Terrestrial  Gods  and  Goddesses 
118 
Thalia,  one  of  the  Graces     111 

,  one  of  the  Muses     160 

Thamyras,  dismal  fate  of  163 
Thesmophorian  Mysteries  157 
Themis  164 

Theodamus,  killed  by  Hercu- 
les 255 
Theseus,  actions  of,  kc.  260 
Thisbe,  history  of  104 
Thyades,  Bacchus'  companions 
66 


INDEX 


Time  ;     .  Saturn,  why  mean- 
ing the  same  126 
Tisiphone,  one  of  the   Furies 
218 
Titan,  conduct  of  119 
Titans,  description  of           225 
Tithouus.  history  of  116 
Tytius,  history  of                  224 
Tonas  and  Tonitrualis,  names 
of  Jupiter  35 
Trieterica,    sacrifices   to   Bac- 
chus 71 
Triformis,  a  title  of  Diana   177 
Trioculus  or  Triophthalmos,  a 
name  of  Jupiter  36 
Triptolemus,  account  of      153 

,   fourth  Judge   of 

hell  221 

Triton,  a  sea-god,  description 

of  199 

Tritonia,  a  name  of  Minerva  95 

Trivia,  a  name   of  Hecate  or 

Diana,  see  Diana 

Trojan  war,  reason  of  the    108 

Troy,  the  walls  of  it  built  by 

the  music  of  Apollo's  harp  42 

Truth,  how  painted  295 

Tutelina  or  Tutulina,  a  goddess 

of  corn  192 

Tyndariffi,  the  children  of  Tyn- 

darus  263 

Tyndarus,  king  of  Laconia,  the 

husband  of  Leda  ib. 

Typhceus,  description  of     223 

V. 

Vallonia,    the   goddess  of  the 

vallies  191 

Vejovis,  Vejupiter  and  Vedius, 

titles  of  Jupiter  36 

Venus,  description  of  99 

. ,  character  of  100 

■ ,  how  painted  ib. 

,  from  what  sprung  ib. 

,  to  whom  married  101 

. -,  names  of  ib. 

,  actions  of  104 

,  companions  of  109 

Verticordia,  a  title  of  Venus, 
see  Venus 


Vertumnus,  story  of  185 

Vesta,  description  of  139 

,  sacrifices  of  140 

,  Avhy  put  for  fire  ib, 

,  why  highly  esteemed  ib. 

,  fire  kept  in  her  temples 

141 

,  privileges  of  ib. 

,  meaning  of  by  the  poets 

ib. 
Vices,  enumerated  and  describ- 
ed 298 
Virtue,  by  whom  worshipped 
292 
Volumnusand  Volumna,  tutelar 
deities  to  adult  persons    247 
Volusia,  the  goddess  of  corn  192 
Vulcan,  his  birth,  descent,  and 
employment ;  courts  Miner- 
va, but  is  rejected ;  marries 
Venus ;  makes  the  first  wo- 
man, who  is  called  Pandora, 
his   servants;    his   children; 
the  signification  of  this  fable 
132 
Vulcania,  feasts  in  honour  of 
Vulcan,  see  Vulcan. 


U. 


Ulysses,  why  so  named,  history 

of,  actions  283 

Urania,  one  of  the  Muses     161 

Unxia,  a  title  of  Juno,  see  Juno 

W. 

Walls  of  Babylon,  one  of  the 

seven  wonders  of  the  world 

54 

Wise  men  of  Greece,  their 
names  and  characters  48 

Wonders,  seven  of  the  world  53 


Xanthus,  one  of  the  horses  of 
Achilles,  see  Achilles 

Xenia,  a  name  for  presen*j5  made 
to  strangers  86 


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